It has been a long road back to the court for Ja Morant, but the Grizzlies star is finally on track to make his season debut.
Morant's 25-game suspension ended on Monday, paving the way for him to rejoin the rotation for Tuesday night's contest against the Pelicans. The 24-year-old expressed guilt for putting his team in a difficult position to start the 2023-24 campaign, but he also felt an appreciation for the support that he received as he worked on improving his decision-making away from the court.
"It was definitely tough," Morant said. "Some horrible days. It was tough. But like I said to start this, with the support that I've had throughout this process, it definitely helped me a lot. It's pretty much all I could lean on at times."
Is Morant ready to go after a lengthy absence?
Here is everything you need to know about Grizzlies vs. Pelicans, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Is Ja Morant playing tonight?
Morant is expected to play in Tuesday's game between the Grizzlies and Pelicans. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported earlier this month that Morant had been "ramping up" ahead of his return on Dec. 19.
In 61 games last season, Morant averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. He led Memphis to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but the Grizzlies fell to the Lakers in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
What channel is Grizzlies vs. Pelicans on?
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 19
- TV channel: TNT
- Live streaming: Sling TV
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans will air on TNT. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2023-24 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Sling base packages (Sling Orange or Sling Blue) start at just $20 for your first month, or you can get Sling Orange + Blue starting at $27.50 for your first month. There are no long-term contracts, and you can change your channel lineup anytime. DVR is included along with thousands of on-demand shows and movies.
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans start time
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 19
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans will tip off around 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 19. The game will be played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Grizzlies schedule 2023-24
Here are Memphis' next five games of the 2023-24 regular season:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 19 | at Pelicans | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Dec. 21 | vs. Pacers | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 23 | at Hawks | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 26 | at Pelicans | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 28 | at Nuggets | 9 p.m. | — |
Pelicans schedule 2023-24
Here are New Orleans' next five games of the 2023-24 regular season:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 19 | vs. Grizzlies | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Dec. 21 | at Cavaliers | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 23 | vs. Rockets | 7 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 26 | vs. Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 28 | vs. Jazz | 8 p.m. | — |
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