⌕/
Ja Morant · As athletic as can be, and with the physicality to match, the Houston Rockets’ defense could be reasonably listed among opposing floor generals’ worst nightmares, given their ability to hold point guards to the third-lowest effective field goal percentage leaguewide. Accepting of all challenges, Ja Morant brings his best to a late-game, titan-sized clash against Ausar Thompson’s 6-foot-7 frame, stringing together a between-the-leg, spin combination that inches him closer to that ever-familiar spot around the rim. Unphased, even as Cam Whitmore’s expansive reach joins the fray, Morant takes the term “acrobat” to a different stratosphere, elevating into a double-clutch scoop that gently falls through off glass. As evidenced through both competitive barbs with Houston’s backcourt stars and crowd-silencing 37-footers, Morant settled into a postseason-like form, even in a loss on January 13, 2025. Must-discuss both on-floor and on the box score, the Memphis Grizzlies’ All-Star excelled his way into 29 points (on 11-of-24 shooting), three rebounds, four assists, four steals, and four 3-pointers. · State of Mint