NBA Breaks Silence on Ja Morant’s Ejection in Grizzlies-Kings

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Sacramento Kings Thursday night 115-110, giving the Grizzlies their 15th win of the season and preventing a two-game losing streak. Despite Memphis entering the game with their three highest-paid players in Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, they didn't finish the game with all three of them.

In the fourth quarter, Morant was assessed a technical foul for an interaction with a referee before receiving a second one minutes later and being ejected from the contest. Morant's uproar was a result of a foul call on Kings wing DeMar DeRozan.

Morant ended the night with eight points, seven assists, and three rebounds in 28 minutes.

Ja got ejected after receiving his second tech 😳 pic.twitter.com/JL5VhmJmzv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 6, 2024

The NBA has explained this ejection via a Pool Report conducted by Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal with Crew Chief Pat Fraher.

"Going back to Ja Morant's first technical around the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter, why was he accessed the technical foul?" Cole asked.

Fraher then responded, "At 8:07 on the out of bounds play on the baseline Morant points and uses profanity towards an official."

The Pool Report following the Sacramento at Memphis game tonight. pic.twitter.com/gpw10HXLbF
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 6, 2024

Cole followed up by asking, "Could you explain why Ja was called for the foul on DeMar DeRozan that led to the ejection?"

"In live play the official thought that Morant bumped DeRozan on his jump shot. However, after postgame review Morant was in legal guarding position and should not have been called for a foul," Fraher said in response.

Genuinely embarrassing that Ja Morant got ejected for this. Cant happen. Wasn’t even a foul, and dude gets tossed for a second technical. Unacceptable to compound that call with a T there. pic.twitter.com/vMHCmLQl6p
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) December 6, 2024

Cole concluded by asking, "Why was Morant accessed the second technical foul? Was it something he said or gesturing at the officials?"

"As Morant walked to the bench, he used multiple points and profanity towards an official," Fraher said.

Morant will return to action on Saturday as the Grizzlies gear up for a tough matchup on the road against the Boston Celtics.

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