Quick Facts
- Date: February 28, 2022
- Location: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee (Beale Street Entertainment District)
- Matchup: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
- Final Score: Grizzlies 118, Spurs 105
- Key Figures: Ja Morant (52 points, 22–30 FG, 4–4 3PT); Steven Adams (full-court assist to end first half); Jakob Poeltl (primary defender on signature dunk)
- What’s Historic: First 50-point game by any Grizzlies player; franchise records for points (52) and made field goals (22)
Main Story
On February 28, 2022, the Bluff City witnessed a landmark performance in franchise and Memphis sports lore. Ja Morant scored 52 points at FedExForum to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the San Antonio Spurs, 118–105. The outburst — on 22-of-30 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 from three — set the Grizzlies’ single-game scoring record and marked the first 50-point game in team history, just two days after Morant had established the then-regular-season mark with 46 points against Chicago.
Morant’s night included two indelible plays that coursed through highlight reels: a soaring dunk over Spurs center Jakob Poeltl and a buzzer-beating baseline jumper to end the first half, caught in mid-air off a full-court inbounds pass from Steven Adams. The latter was confirmed as a made basket by the NBA’s Replay Center. Beyond the moments, Morant closed the game with a decisive scoring run in the fourth quarter to seal the win, underscoring both efficiency and poise.
Legacy
Morant’s 52-point game instantly became a touchstone for Grizzlies fans and a point of pride for the Memphis community. It elevated the franchise’s national profile, energized downtown on a weeknight, and reinforced the city’s identity as a rising basketball hub. In the broader arc of Memphis history and culture — from Beale Street to arenas across the NBA — this performance stands as a signature moment for the 901, reflecting the city’s creativity, resilience, and competitive spirit.
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