Horry Scale: Ja Morant sinks game-winner in spectacular return from suspension

Grizzlies star Ja Morant (14 points in fourth, 34 overall) scores at the buzzer to lift Memphis past New Orleans.

A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.

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Even a Hollywood screenwriter would never have the audacity to suggest such a scenario: Suspended for the first 25 games of the season, Grizzlies star Ja Morant returns in peak form, scoring his usual array of high-wire buckets before leaving the best for last with the buzzer-beating layup as Memphis rallies from 24 points down against New Orleans.

But that’s exactly what happened Tuesday night at Smoothie King Center, where Morant completely demolished any notion of rust or easing his way back into action. The two-time All-Star finished with 34 points, including 14 in the final 7:15 to remind the Grizzlies — and hoops fans everywhere — what they’ve been missing in the eight months since he last set foot on an NBA court.

“I’ve been putting work in,” Morant said. “I had a lot of time to learn myself. A lot of hard days. But basketball is my life, what I love, therapeutic for me, and I’m just excited to be back.”

“Basketball is my life, what I love, therapeutic for me, and I’m just excited to be back.”@StephanieReady caught up with Ja Morant after a buzzer-beating win for the Grizzlies in his return pic.twitter.com/eAPS6ASbj0

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 20, 2023

GAME SITUATION: Memphis had hoped Morant’s return would provide a spark following its miserable 6-19 start. For a half, at least, those aims seemed woefully misguided as the Grizzlies – owners of the league’s seventh-worst point differential coming in at minus-6.5 per game — found themselves buried by 24 just before the break. They kept chipping away over the ensuing 24 minutes, however, to give themselves a shot at victory on the final possession.

DIFFICULTY: Morant must have been salivating as that set shaped up with 10 seconds remaining — single coverage, no help.

The textbook play might have been to trap Morant and get the ball out of his hands, particularly given that he’d spent the previous seven-plus minutes dragging Memphis back into the game almost by himself. But additional defenders didn’t come until it was too late, leaving Morant — one of the NBA’s best and most creative finishers — with a lane to the rim.

Pelicans forward Herb Jones did contest well, but it wasn’t enough to prevent another one of Morant’s patented springy scores.

JA MORANT CAPS THE @memgrizz 24-POINT COMEBACK WITH THE #TISSOTBUZZERBEATER!

34 points for Ja in the thrilling W.#TimeDefinesGreatness pic.twitter.com/qa3tEPQwry

— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2023

CELEBRATION: Surprisingly muted on Morant’s part, but you could tell just how much he’s been missed given the exuberance of his coaches and teammates, who mobbed him during his postgame interview on TNT. (See above.) That manifested in a sweet scene just after the game, when Grizzlies staffers lined the hallway for an ovation as he ran back to the visitors’ dressing room. Welcome back, indeed.

BACK ON DAT TIMING @JaMorant 🗣️🗣️ pic.twitter.com/y4QCSZxURV

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 20, 2023

GRADE: About the only thing preventing Morant from earning the rare five-star Horry is the fact it took place in the regular season. (The playoffs, after all, are where true greatness is made.) Otherwise, it checks virtually every box you could want. 4.5 Horrys.