As the Grizzlies prepare to take on the New Orleans Pelicans for their annual Black Friday game, they received some encouraging news about their star player on Thanksgiving. Ja Morant, who missed the team's last game due to a knee contusion suffered in his return game on Monday, is listed as Probable to play today's game.
Ja says he’s back at it tomorrow 👀 pic.twitter.com/uds4aiIs5m
— Parker VB (@parkervb901) November 28, 2024
Ja Morant hinted at his return from a one-game absence earlier on the holiday before the official injury report was released. This game will mark Ja Morant's first career NBA In-Season Tournament game as he was either suspended (last season) or injured (this season) for the team's first six games, in which they have a 0-6 record.
While the Grizzlies look to win their first-ever Emirates NBA Cup game, they will look to get on the right track for their Black Friday games as well. The Grizzlies haven't been on the right side of the history of these games since the "Grz Nxt Gen" era of the Grizzlies began in 2019.
1-3 Record on Black Friday since 2019
Although the current Grizzlies era began in 2019 when Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, head coach Taylor Jenkins, and General Manager Zach Kleiman made their debut season with the franchise (John Konchar too as a two-way), Jaren Jackson Jr. has a 2-3 record with a victory in the "Grit N' Grind" Grizzlies era's last Black Friday game in 2018.
Then rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a season-high 36 points including the game-tying three to send the game into overtime before the Grizzlies defeated the Brooklyn Nets 135-129 in double overtime. This also marked the last time the Grizzlies have played a Black Friday game on the road as they have had their struggles at home in their current era.
Except for the shortened 2020-21 season, which didn't begin until late December, the Grizzlies have hosted a Black Friday game every season. All games have held double-digit final scores with the only final score under 10 points coming in their 103-94 loss to the Utah Jazz in 2019.
The Atlanta Hawks defeated Memphis 132-100 in 2021 and the Phoenix Suns defeated Memphis 110-89 in their final In-Season Tournament game last season. The Grizzlies' only victory on Black Friday since 2019 came against the same New Orleans Pelicans team they play today.
The remaining players the Grizzlies have that played in their 132-111 victory over the Pelicans in 2022 include Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Brandon Clarke, Jake LaRavia, and Vince Williams Jr. Desmond Bane missed that game due to injury so he and Vince Williams Jr. will swap availability today while he is out with injury.
Look for the Grizzlies to turn around their Black Friday and Emirates NBA Cup woes against an opponent they had success against previously on this day.