NBA five things to know for Friday.
1. Sold-out crowd sees big win in Ja Morant’s home opener
FedEx Forum was sold out for only the fourth time this season as Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies knocked off the Indiana Pacers 116-103.
It was the home debut for Morant, who just returned from a 25-game suspension, and he scored 20 points and had eight assists. Desmond Bane, a recipient of a few of those assists, led Memphis with 31 points.
To celebrate Morant’s return, Grizzlies fans tried to organize a parade outside the arena a couple of hours before the opening tip. That might not have gone as well as they hoped, but inside the arena, it was probably louder than it had been all season. Memphis rappers Key Glock, Sett, Moneybagg Yo and GloRilla, were sitting at the courtside.
2. Despite facing a depleted lineup, Detroit Pistons lose again, streak at 25
Four players weren’t in the Utah Jazz lineup Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons and yet Detroit couldn’t find a way to get a win. The Jazz won 119-111.
The Pistons have now lost 25 straight games and are on the doorstep of a record they don’t want.
If Detroit loses Saturday at Brooklyn, it will tie the record for most consecutive losses in one season with 26. The all-time losing streak is 28.
Detroit Pistons next four games
- Saturday at Brooklyn Nets
- Tuesday vs. Brooklyn Nets
- Dec 28 at Boston Celtics
- Dec. 30 vs. Toronto Raptors
Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker didn’t play for Utah.
3. Los Angeles Clippers winning streak ends at OKC
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly putting up fantastic numbers for Oklahoma City again this season. Thursday, he scored 31 points, had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals to lead the Thunder to a 134-115 win against Oklahoma City to snap the Clippers’ nine-game winning streak.
He’s averaging 30.7 points, 6.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 5.8 rebounds. SGA burst onto the scene last season to spur the Thunder rebuilding process. This season, he has OKC in second place in the Western Conference standings.
James Harden scored 23 points and Paul George added 22 for the Clippers, who hadn’t lost since Nov. 30.
4. LeBron-less Lakers lose to Minnesota Timberwolves to extend streak
Playing without LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-111. The Timberwolves put the game away with a 12-4 run late in the fourth quarter.
This is the fourth-straight loss for the Lakers, who have lost five of six games since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament.
James didn’t play because of tendinitis in his ankle, the team said.
Minnesota is 21-6 and tied with the Boston Celtics for the best record in the NBA.