Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant started Friday against the Utah Jazz in his return from a 10-game absence due to a calf injury.
Morant had not played since he suffered a Grade 1 right calf strain in the first quarter of a 108-100 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 15.
The 26-year-old is averaging 17.9 points on a career-low 35.9% shooting in a dozen games for the Grizzlies. His 28.8 minutes per game is also the lowest mark of his seven-year NBA career.
The 11-13 Grizzlies welcomed the Jazz to the FedEx Forum in Memphis with wins in seven of their last nine outings. They are 7-4 in 11 games without the two-time All-Star in the lineup this season.
Morant was suspended one game in November for conduct detrimental to the team after making postgame remarks following a defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. Morant responded to a question about what the Grizzlies could have done differently in the defeat, saying, “According to (the coaching staff), probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after, so it’s cool.”
