Memphis Grizzlies' NBA schedule shows when Ja Morant can return from suspension
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant could be making his season debut in front of a national audience.
The Grizzlies will play their 26th game of the season on Dec. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans on TNT, according to the NBA schedule released Thursday. It will be the first game Morant is eligible to return after serving a 25-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league.
Memphis will open the regular season Oct. 25, also against the division rival Pelicans. Like the Grizzlies, the Pelicans are one of the young teams that could make a push in the loaded Western Conference.
It is still unclear when Morant will be allowed to be with the Grizzlies at their team facilities, but the examples of long suspensions of other NBA players indicate he likely will be around the team well before Dec. 19.
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Morant will not be available for the Nov. 3 debut of the NBA's in-season tournament. The championship game is scheduled for Dec. 9.
The Grizzlies have performed well the past two seasons when they have been without Morant, but this year will present a different challenge. Tyus Jones is no longer available to fill in and keep the offense humming. Instead, the Grizzlies will rely on Marcus Smart, who was acquired in a three-team trade that resulted in Jones landing in Washington.
The Grizzlies went 11-10 without Morant last season, and 20-5 the season before that.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: In Memphis Grizzlies' 2023-24 schedule, Ja Morant return date revealed
