Here is a look back and look ahead today in the NBA.
1. Ja Morant’s dazzling debut
Would you trust the last shot to a man who hasn’t played in a basketball game for six months? You do if that man is Ja Morant.
In his welcome back to the NBA game, Morant hit a short jumper at the buzzer to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 115-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, a game the Pels led by as many as 24 points. Morant finished with 34 points and eight assists.
It was also a welcome back to the NBA for the Grizzlies, who have been struggling without Morant, without his backup point guard in Tyus Jones (traded to the Wizards), without Marcus Smart, who was brought in to keep things stable while Morant was out, without Stephen Adams, done for the season with a knee injury and without Brandon Clarke, done for the season with an Achilles injury.
Memphis has made the playoffs three straight seasons and are 6 1/2 games out of the last play-in spot. If Morant plays like he did in his first game back, they will push for a fourth.
2. Portland snaps 7-game losing streak
The Portland Trail Blazers stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 109-104 win against the Phoenix Suns, as former Suns big man DeAndre Ayton had 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Portland trailed by as many as 22 before putting on a burst in the third quarter to grab a lead it never relinquished.
It was another big game for Kevin Durant in a losing effort and he scored 40 points on 16-of-18 shooting and Devin Booker had 26. It was the fifth loss for the Suns in the past seven games.
3. Steph Curry back doing what he does, shoot 3s
One game after hitting no 3-pointers for the first time in five years, Stephen Curry hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 132-126 win over the Boston Celtics in overtime.
Curry shot 11 for 21 with six 3s and played most of the fourth quarter with five fouls. Klay Thompson scored 24 points and hit his 2,291st career 3-pointer in the first quarter. Thompson passed Vince Carter for eighth place on the NBA’s all-time list.
Jayson Tatum added 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Tatum left the court with 7:45 left in the first quarter with an apparent ankle injury. But, he returned to the bench about four minutes later then was back on the floor to start the second quarter.
4. Somebody’s got to win in Indianapolis tonight
The Indiana Pacers are searching for a win on a four-game losing streak. Welcome to Indianapolis, Charlotte Hornets, you and your five-game losing streak are just what the Pacers are looking for.
The darlings of the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Pacers are still putting up great offensive numbers, scoring 127.4 points per game to lead the league. The problem is, they’re giving up 127 points per game.
Tyrese Haliburton has been spectacular for Indiana this season, averaging 24.9 points and 11.9 assists, but only had eight in the 151-127 blowout loss to the L.A. Clippers on Monday. Myles Turners is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury.
The Hornets are 1-7 in December and coach Steve Clifford has been juggling the lineup, trying to find a spark.
5. Big on big in battle of hot teams
The surprise of the NBA season, the Minnesota Timberwolves, will take its twin towers to Philadelphia for an epic big-man battle against the 76ers.
Rudy Gobert, who seemingly was the missing piece for the Timberwolves, and Karl-Anthony Towns will face off with Joel Embiid for Philly in what will be a throwback-type game.
Embiid leads the league in scoring at 34.4 points per game. He’s getting 11.6 rebounds per game. Towns leads Minnesota with 22.2 points. He and Gobert combine for 18 rebounds per game.
Both teams are good defensively, Minnesota gives up the fewest points per game, so points will be difficult to come by.