Ja Morant's Buzzer-Beater Stuns Heat, Ends Grizzlies' Slide with 30-Point Performance
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Ja Morant scores 30, hits game-winning fadeaway at the buzzer to stun Heat in clutch victory.
The Horry Scale breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) by evaluating difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind?), importance (is it a playoff game or a regular night?), and celebration, then assigns an overall grade from 1-5 Robert Horrys, named after the king of last-second shots.
In a thrilling showdown between Ja Morant and Tyler Herro, it was Memphis’ star guard who left the last mark on the game. Morant scored 30 points and nailed a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, giving the Grizzlies a 110-108 victory over the Heat. The win snapped Memphis’ four-game losing streak and ended Miami’s six-game win streak.
With 13.8 seconds remaining, Herro tied the game with a floater to make it 108-all. The Grizzlies called a timeout to set up the final possession.
GAME SITUATION: After the timeout, Memphis opted to push the ball the length of the court. Desmond Bane inbounded to Morant, who drove the lane and found space over Kel’el Ware. Morant rose for a smooth fadeaway jumper that bounced on the rim a few times before dropping through as the buzzer sounded.
DIFFICULTY: With the game tied and the loud Kaseya Center roaring, Morant had to get a shot off over the 7-foot Ware. Asked about the final play, Morant showed his confidence: “A pigeon guarding me, go get a bucket and win the game,” he said.
CELEBRATION: Morant raced down the court to embrace his father, Tee Morant, sitting courtside. Soon after, the entire Grizzlies team joined him, swarming their star guard in celebration.
GRADE: In a crucial game with less than two weeks left in the regular season, Morant’s buzzer-beater ended Memphis’ losing streak and earned interim coach Tuomas Iisalo his first win. The victory lifted the Grizzlies out of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and into the No. 6 seed in the West. This clutch moment earns 3.5 Horrys.