Ja Morant made an immediate impact in his return, scoring 24 points and dishing out 13 assists to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday at London’s O2 Arena. The matchup marked the NBA’s first regular-season game in London since 2019 and served as the finale of a European doubleheader between the teams.
Memphis wasted little time taking control. With Morant orchestrating the offense, the Grizzlies surged to a commanding first-half lead, at one point going up by as many as 33. Morant, who had missed six games with a right calf injury, looked sharp despite being on a minutes restriction, piling up 20 points and 10 assists before halftime and setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Jock Landale provided a strong interior presence with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points as Memphis snapped a recent skid and avenged Thursday’s 118-111 loss to Orlando in Berlin. The Grizzlies led comfortably throughout and had answers every time the Magic attempted to make a push.
Orlando showed some life in the fourth quarter when Paolo Banchero knocked down a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 108-91 with just over eight minutes remaining. Memphis, however, quickly reasserted control, closing the game with poise to seal the victory.
Anthony Black led the Magic with 19 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds. Banchero finished with 16 points on 7-of-20 shooting, along with nine assists and eight rebounds, while Franz Wagner scored 14 points in his second game back from a high ankle sprain. Orlando struggled from long range, hitting just 10 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc.
Morant finished the night with 28 minutes played, providing a much-needed spark for a Memphis team that had dropped seven of its previous nine games. The win was the Grizzlies’ first of the season against Orlando after the split in Europe.
The game was the 10th NBA regular-season contest held in London, continuing the league’s international footprint. The NBA is scheduled to return to Europe in 2027 with games in Paris and Manchester, followed by Paris and Berlin in 2028.
The Magic return home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, while the Grizzlies head back to Memphis to face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
