San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
MORANT RETURNS IN BLOWOUT
Ja Morant had 21 points and nine assists in his return from soreness in his right knee, Dillon Brooks scored 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies routed the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 141-114 on Saturday night to tie the 2012-13 franchise record for victories in a season at 56.
After missing nine games, Morant played almost 27 minutes as the second-seeded Grizzlies got their starting lineup back together in preparation for the postseason. They will close the regular season at home against Boston tonight.
Morant had not played since he was injured in a loss at Atlanta on March 18.
“Being out there with my team is something I’ve been waiting on since March 19,” Morant said, referring to the day after his injury. “I was finally able to do that. Excited to be out there. Had a lot of fun. Just preparing for this stretch we’re about to go on in the playoffs.”
Brandon Clarke added 20 points for Memphis, making all 10 of his field goal attempts. Ziaire Williams had 19 points, and Desmond Bane had 18. Bane was 6 of 7 on the night, including making all four 3-point attempts.
The Grizzlies shot better than 60 percent through three quarters.
CJ Mccollum led New Orleans with 16 points but was 6 of 17 from the field. Willy Hernangomez added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaxson Hayes had 13 points.
“It was a tough night. Tough night for CJ. Tough night for me. Tough night for our group,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
Clippers 117, Kings 98: Paul George scored 23 points, Ivica Zubac had 15 points and 12 rebounds and host Los Angeles won its fourth straight.
Norman Powell added 20 points off the bench for the Clippers, who will host Minnesota on Tuesday in the play-in tournament. A victory would send Los Angeles to the postseason for the fourth straight year and a first-round matchup against Memphis.
A loss to the Timberwolves would have the Clippers meeting either New Orleans or San Antonio on Friday with one more chance to make the playoffs. The winner of that game would then get the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.
76ers 133, Pacers 120: Joel Embiid made his closing argument for MVP votes and all but wrapped up the NBA scoring title, finishing with 41 points and 20 rebounds in Philadelphia’s victory over Indiana.
Embiid shot 14 for 17 from the floor, went 11 of 15 from the foul line and made of both his 3-point attempts in a game that Philadelphia needed to win to remain alive for the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Warriors 100, Spurs 94: Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Poole each had 18 points and Golden State won its fourth straight, winning at San Antonio.
Golden State is a game ahead of Dallas in the Western Conference and can secure the third seed with a victory today at New Orleans in the season finale. If the Warriors lose, and the Mavericks beat the Spurs today, Dallas will finish third after going 3-1 in its season series with Golden State.
Luka Doncic will be able to play for the Mavericks tonight after the NBA office rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season Saturday, wiping out an automatic one-game suspension.