The Grizzlies dominated from the opening tip in London’s O2 Arena, handing the Magic a 126–109 defeat in the first regular-season NBA game in the city since 2019. Memphis surged ahead early with a 40-23 first quarter and maintained control throughout the night.
Returning from a six-game absence with a right calf injury, Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 24 points and a game-high 13 assists, orchestrating the offense and energizing the crowd with his playmaking.
Jock Landale was a huge spark off the bench, contributing 21 points and eight rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points and Cedric Coward chipped in 13 as Memphis got balanced scoring from multiple spots.
Orlando was paced by Anthony Black’s 19 points and Paolo Banchero’s 16, with Wendell Carter Jr. finishing with 18 points and seven boards, but the Magic never could trim Memphis’ early lead enough to shift momentum. Orlando did cut into the deficit in the second half, but the Grizzlies closed strong to secure the 17-point victory.
The win was a solid response after Memphis fell to Orlando earlier in the European swing, and seeing Morant back in form gives the Grizzlies a boost moving forward.
Next game: the Memphis Grizzlies host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday (1/21) at FedExForum at 7:00 p.m. on 92.9 FM ESPN