Grizzlies Blitz Magic Early, Cruise to Win in London Behind Morant’s Return
After pulling off a gritty comeback win in Berlin earlier in the week, the Orlando Magic couldn’t replicate the magic in London. This time, the Memphis Grizzlies made sure there’d be no rally.
From the opening tip at O2 Arena, Memphis came out with purpose-and pace-racing to a 33-point lead at one point and never letting Orlando get within striking distance. The Grizzlies led wire to wire in a 126-109 victory, flipping the script from Thursday’s meeting and showing what happens when they play with their full complement of weapons.
“We didn’t start out the right way,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. “Similar to the last game where the lead got so far ahead, we couldn’t crawl our way back into this one. They hit some shots but they come out strong and fast in that first quarter.”
That first quarter? It was all Grizzlies. Memphis dropped 40 points in the opening 12 minutes, shooting 6-of-11 from beyond the arc while dishing out 13 assists on 15 made field goals-six of those dimes coming from Ja Morant, who returned from a six-game absence with a bruised right calf.
Morant didn’t look rusty. He looked like the engine that drives Memphis’ offense.
In just 28 minutes, he tallied a game-high 13 assists and led all scorers with 24 points. Whether it was finding cutters slicing through the lane or kicking out to shooters on the perimeter, Morant dictated the tempo and created high-quality looks all night.
“Got to give Memphis a ton of credit for the way they sparked that first quarter,” Mosley added. “From there, it was just an uphill battle.”
Magic Struggle Early-Again
This wasn’t just a slow start. It was a full-on stumble out of the gate.
And it was déjà vu for Orlando, who allowed 39 first-quarter points in Berlin just days prior. In London, it was 40.
While the Grizzlies were moving the ball with precision and knocking down shots, Orlando opened the game 0-for-7 from deep and failed to make up ground inside. The Magic were also punished on the glass, giving up three offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone-leading to 10 second-chance points for Memphis.
That early hole proved too deep to dig out of. And unlike Thursday’s game, where the Magic clawed back from 20 down, there was no such push this time around.
Paint Problems and Missed Opportunities
Part of the Magic’s offensive woes stemmed from struggles at the rim. In the first half, Orlando shot just 10-for-17 (58.8%) in the restricted area-well below the league average of 66.7%. Memphis, by contrast, was clinical, converting 12-of-16 (75%) in the same zone.
Those missed bunnies had a ripple effect. Every blown layup or short miss turned into a transition opportunity the other way. Memphis capitalized, getting out in the open floor before Orlando’s defense could get set.
“There was a lid on the basket for us, especially early in the game,” said Paolo Banchero, who finished with 16 points. “Sometimes the ball just bounces that way.”
By the time the Magic found their rhythm-finishing at 64% in the restricted area-it was already out of reach.
Bright Spots and Bench Notes
Despite the loss, there were a few positives for Orlando. Rookie Anthony Black continued to show poise and offensive growth, scoring 19 points.
Wendell Carter Jr. added 18, and Banchero chipped in his 16. The trio combined for 53 points, though the Magic’s defensive intensity never matched the offensive production they needed to mount a serious comeback.
First-round pick Jase Richardson made the most of his minutes after not playing in Berlin. The rookie guard scored 11 points in 20 minutes, adding four rebounds and three assists. He did pick up three fouls in the first half, which limited his time, but his energy was evident.
Second-rounder Noah Penda also saw the floor, though briefly. He missed both of his early three-point attempts and played only four minutes through the first three quarters.
Moe Wagner was a late scratch as part of his left knee injury management. He had played 14 minutes in Berlin, just his second appearance since returning from a torn left ACL.
Looking Ahead
Now sitting at 23-19, the Magic return to the U.S. looking to regroup. They’ll host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday at Kia Center, hoping to fix the slow starts that have plagued them on this international swing.
As Banchero put it: “The experience of London was great, and I wish we could have gotten the win.”
Back to work.