The NBA made a high-profile return to London on Sunday night as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame the Orlando Magic 126–109 at the O2 Arena, with Ja Morant delivering a standout performance in his first game back from injury.
Morant, who had missed six games due to a right calf problem, provided an immediate lift for Memphis, finishing with 24 points and 13 assists in a commanding all-round display. His influence was evident from the opening minutes as the Grizzlies seized control early and never relinquished it.
Memphis built a dominant first-half advantage, at one point leading by as many as 33 points, as Orlando struggled to cope with the Grizzlies’ pace and ball movement. Although the Magic attempted a late rally, cutting the deficit to 17 points midway through the fourth quarter following a Paolo Banchero three-pointer, the contest was already beyond reach.
Jock Landale contributed 21 points and eight rebounds for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points. The victory also served as revenge for the Grizzlies, who had lost 118–111 to the Magic in Berlin on Thursday in the opening game of the teams’ European doubleheader.
For Orlando, Anthony Black led the scoring with 19 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 18 points and seven rebounds. Banchero endured a difficult shooting night, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-20 shooting, but still registered nine assists and eight rebounds.
Sunday’s game marked the 10th NBA regular-season fixture to be staged in London and the league’s first appearance in the city since 2019. The NBA has confirmed its continued European expansion, with Paris and Manchester set to host regular-season games in 2027, followed by fixtures in Paris and Berlin in 2028.
