Morant returns from calf injury, scores 21 in loss
Ja Morant
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Morant returns from calf injury, scores 21 in lossJa Morant returned to the Memphis Grizzlies' lineup on Friday night after missing 10 games due to a right calf strain and had 21 points and 10 assists in a 130-126 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Cam Spencer accounted for 20 points (6-of-6 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), two rebounds, four assists, one block and six three-pointers in Friday's loss to the Jazz.With Ja Morant back in the fold, how the point guard rotation would shake out behind him was a point of interest for deep-league fantasy managers. Spencer played 25 minutes off the bench and enjoyed the best shooting night of his NBA career, as he made a career-high six three-pointers without a miss. Vince Williams Jr., who was the starter when Morant was out, played 15 minutes and went scoreless (0-of-4 FGs) with three rebounds and one blocked shot. The chances of Spencer consistently shooting as well as he did on Friday are slim, but he still offers a higher ceiling than Williams when Morant is available.
Ja Morant (calf) tallied 21 points (7-of-20 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), four rebounds, 10 assists, one block and two three-pointers in Friday's loss to the Jazz.Friday's game was the first for Morant since November 15, so his playing time was restricted. However, that did not prevent the point guard from showing off his elite athleticism at various points, including an impressive chasedown block of a Keyonte George layup attempt during the first half. Morant finished with his fourth double-double of the season, which helps compensate for the low field-goal percentage. Memphis is done for Week 8 and will open Week 9 on Monday against the Clippers.
Ja Morant: Scores 21 points in returnMorant had 21 points (7-20 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-7 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and a block across 25 minutes in Friday's 130-126 loss to the Grizzlies.
Ja Morant, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama will start Friday's game against the Jazz.While Morant's return from a strained calf is the most significant change to the Grizzlies' starting lineup, it isn't the only one. While Jock Landale has been the preferred choice in the past, Aldama will step in to fill the void left by the injured Zach Edey (ankle). Edey will be out for at least four weeks, so there's still time for Landale to slide into the lineup. But this decision bodes well for Aldama's fantasy value, which is capped when he comes off the bench.