Ja Morant returned from a six-game absence and powered the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday at The O2, marking the NBA’s first regular-season game in London since 2019.
The point guard finished with 24 points and 13 assists in 28 minutes, operating under a pregame minutes restriction after missing time with a right calf injury.
Memphis set the tone early, building a commanding first-half lead behind Morant’s pace and ball movement. He produced 20 points and 10 assists before halftime as the Grizzlies stretched the margin to 33.
The Western Conference club shot 53 percent from the field and controlled the paint and glass, matching Orlando with 42 rebounds while turning defense into transition scoring.
Jock Landale delivered 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench, providing efficient interior scoring on 9-of-11 shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points and two blocks, anchoring the defense during decisive stretches.
Memphis also avenged a 118-111 loss to Orlando in Berlin on Thursday, the opener of the teams’ European doubleheader, by tightening its rotations and limiting second-chance opportunities.
Orlando trimmed the deficit in the fourth quarter after Paolo Banchero drilled a three-pointer to make it 108-91 with 8:15 remaining. The Magic did not get closer, as Memphis closed with steady execution.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 19 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. posted 18 points and seven rebounds. Banchero recorded 16 points on 7-of-20 shooting, along with nine assists and eight boards.
Franz Wagner scored 14 points in his second game back from a five-week absence due to a high ankle sprain. The Magic struggled from deep, hitting 10 of 33 attempts.
The London contest was the 10th NBA regular-season game played in the city, with future European games scheduled for Paris and Manchester in 2027 and Paris and Berlin in 2028.
Orlando, seventh in the Eastern Conference at 23-19, returns home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. Memphis, 18-23 and 11th in the West, hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday as it looks to build momentum after dropping seven of its previous nine.
