Ja Morant returned to action for the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night and made an immediate impact, scoring 52 points, including two 3-pointers in overtime, to help the Grizzlies tie an NBA playoff record with four 3-pointers in the extra period and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-109..
Morant, who sat out Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals with a sprained MCL, shot 18-of-34 from the field and added nine assists and three rebounds in his return..
The Grizzlies trailed by 10 points with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, but Morant scored five straight points and assisted on Jaren Jackson Jr.’s game-tying 3-pointer with 33 seconds left to force overtime..
In overtime, Morant made two more 3-pointers to give the Grizzlies a four-point lead with 1:17 remaining..
The Timberwolves had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds of overtime, but Karl-Anthony Towns missed a 3-pointer and Morant sealed the win with a free throw..
Towns led the Timberwolves with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell added 19 points..
The Grizzlies now lead the series 3-1 and can clinch a berth in the Western Conference finals with a win in Game 5 on Thursday night in Minneapolis..
Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN..
The Grizzlies are looking to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2015, while the Timberwolves are trying to reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018..
The winner of the series will face either the Phoenix Suns or Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals..
The Suns currently lead the Mavericks 3-2 in their series, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday night in Phoenix..
