CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The preseason matchup between two of the NBA’s top young point guards turned out to be a mismatch.
Ja Morant had 16 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two blocks in less than 24 minutes of action, helping the Memphis Grizzlies to a 128-98 rout of LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night. Ball, the NBA rookie of the year last season, struggled with his shot finishing with 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
Desmond Bane added 19 points and new Grizzlies center Steven Adams dominated the paint with 15 points and 16 rebounds against a Hornets team that played without starters Gordon Hayward and Mason Plumlee due to health and safety protocols and top reserve Kelly Oubre, who sat out with a sprained right ankle.
Terry Rozier finished with 21 points to lead the Hornets, while rookie James Bouknight added 17 points.
The Grizzlies bolted to a 30-point halftime lead after holding the Hornets to 32% shooting in the first half.
“Our guys are coming out and setting the tone on the offensive end, but that also starts on the defensive end,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
Jenkins said he likes what Adams is bringing to the team, especially working out near the top of the key in the pick and roll with Morant.
“He’s learning a new system, new teammates, new coaches and new terminology, but he is playing to his strengths,” Jenkins said.
When asked about the opportunities to get rebounds off Morant misses, Adams laughed and said, “You’re assuming he’s going to miss, mate.”
“Someone like him, he is very entertaining to watch,” Adams added of Morant. “He’s an amazing athlete and very quick.”
Hornets coach James Borrego wasn’t happy with his team’s slow start.
“If we think that’s acceptable then we’re in trouble,” Borrego said. ”… We’ve got to fight more. There are areas all over the place we’ve got to clean up.”
Borrego said he had no information on how long Hayward and Plumlee will be out.
76ERS 125, RAPTORS 113
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — George Niang scored 16 points and Seth Curry scored 15 and Philadelphia beat Toronto. Niang and Curry each buried four 3-pointers and combined to go 8 for 15 from deep.
Isaiah Joe scored 15 points, Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey each had 14 and Joel Embiid added 10 in 20 minutes of action.
The Sixers shot 47 of 87 (54%) including 18 of 37 (48.6%) from beyond the 3-point arc.
Philadelphia outscored Toronto 44-33 in the second quarter and had eight players in double-digit scoring.
OG Anunoby scored 22 points for Toronto. Fred VanVleet added 17.
HEAT 113, ROCKETS 106
HOUSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 24 points, Kyle Lowry had 10 assists in 19 minutes and Miami beat Houston.
Herro is 16 for 25 from the field in two preseason games, going 7 for 11 from 3-point range. Duncan Robinson scored 20 points, and Bam Adebayo added 15 for Miami. Jimmy Butler shot for 4 of 7 from the floor in 16 minutes in his first action of the season.
Rookie Jalen Green scored 20 points for Houston. Christian Wood had 13.
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