Ja Morant, Grizzlies look for strong finish, playoff success

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Ja Morant's goal is to give Memphis Grizzlies much more than the memorable highlight 360-degree dunk during his first All-Star Game.

The third-year point guard plans on delivering Memphis an NBA title.

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"Our goal is to win the championship, and I feel like as long as we stay locked in, continue to grow together, play together, that goal can be achieved," Morant said. "We just got to stay the course, take it day by day and let it play out."

After having to play their way into the postseason last season, the surprising Grizzlies have the NBA's third-best record overall with 22 games remaining. They trail only Phoenix (48-10) and Golden State (42-17) with Memphis (41-19) just 1 1/2 games back of the Warriors.

It's an impressive turnaround after being 9-10 on Nov. 27 with Morant first out with an injured left knee, then health and safety protocols that cost him 12 games. Since then, the Grizzlies are 32-9 and lead the NBA in several statistical categories.

Memphis is tied with Charlotte as the NBA's top scoring team averaging 113.8 points a game. The Grizzlies also lead the league in rebounds (48.9), steals (10.1) and blocks (6.3) per game even with injuries limiting Dillon Brooks — their best perimeter defender — to 21 games.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, center, is congratulated by teammates during a ceremony presenting Morant with a 2022 NBA All-Star jersey before an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Golden State coach Steve Kerr believes the Grizzlies are solid on both ends of the floor.

"A really