On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who returned last Tuesday after serving a 25-game suspension, was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 18, through Sunday, Dec. 24.
Morant helped guide the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record after his season debut and led the team with averages of 28.0 points and 9.0 assists and ranked second with 5.7 rebounds in wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks. Memphis has recorded three consecutive victories (Dec. 19-23) for the first time this season.
The 24-year-old recorded 34 points in his first appearance of the season on Dec. 19 at New Orleans, scoring 27 in the second half and sinking the game-winning floater at the horn to complete a 24-point comeback. This marked Morant’s sixth career game-winner (including playoffs) and third career buzzer-beater. He tallied 20 points and eight assists in his first home game on Dec. 21 vs. Indiana and posted his first double-double of the season with 30 points and 11 assists on Dec. 23 at Atlanta.
Memphis leads the league in points in the paint (62.0) in three games with Morant, whose 20.7 paint scoring average would top the NBA leaderboard.
The Grizzlies return to action on Tuesday night when they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans.
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