Grizzlies blow out Magic in NBA London return
Memphis Grizzlies dismantled Orlando Magic in a 126-109 victory at The O2 Arena on Sunday – in the first NBA Regular Season game in London since 2019.
The two teams met in Berlin, Germany in the first part of the NBA Europe Series – as Orlando came from behind to secure a 118-111 victory on Thursday evening.
Two-time All-Star Ja Morant marked his return from injury – making only his 19th appearance on the season with rumours continue to swirl around his future with the franchise – with a first half double-double on the way to finishing with 24 points and 13 assists in the win.
Jock Landale had 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr had 17 points for Memphis, while Anthony Black had 19 and Wendell Carter Jr 18 for Orland.
Memphis made another fast start, as they had done in Germany, with 40 points in the first quarter to establish an early 17-point cushion. Jock Landale and Cam Spencer provided the spark from the bench in a 17-5 spell to break the game open.
Morant continued to make things happen for the Grizzlies in the second and his latest triple helped his side double up Orlando at 60-30.
Magic rallied somewhat with a 10-2 response before a pair of threes from Wendell Carter helped further reduce their arrears, though they would still head into the break facing a 72-53 deficit.
Memphis maintained their advantage in the third with Jase Richardson a bright point for the Magic offence, as the two teams were locked at 28-28.
There was to be no big comeback on this occasion. Paolo Banchero’s triple cut the gap down to 17 points with eight minutes remaining, but Memphis were able to complete a comprehensive victory.
Anthony Black had 19 for Orlando, with Carter adding 18, and Banchero putting up a 14-8-9 line.
Orlando also lost their previous NBA London appearance in 2016, when they were beaten 106-103 by Toronto Raptors in overtime.
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