NBA: Ja Morant scores 17 points in return from suspension for flashing gun on live stream

Ja Morant had 17 points and five asss in his return from an NBA suspension, and Jaren Jackson Jr finished with a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Houston Rockets 130-125 on Wednesday night.
Desmond Bane had 20 points and Tyus Jones scored 14 for Memphis, with each adding seven asss.
Jalen Green had 32 points to lead the Rockets, while Kenyon Martin Jr. scored 31. Kevin Porter had his second career triple-double and first of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 asss. Alperen Sengun scored 25 for Houston.
Morant, who did not start, was back in action after missing nine games — eight because of a league-imposed suspension after a live stream from a Denver-area strip club earlier this month showed Morant briefly waving a firearm. Morant underwent counseling at a Florida facility for stress relief during the ban.
The two-time All-Star guard, who entered with 3:05 left in the first quarter, ended up playing 24 minutes and shot 6 for 13 overall. He also had four rebounds.
The two-time All-Star had apologised on Tuesday for his behaviour that earned him the suspension.
“I’m completely sorry for that,” Morant said after practice, speaking publicly for the first time since concluding his eight-game suspension the NBA. “So, you know, my job now is, like I said, to be more responsible, more smarter, and don’t cause any of that no more.”
With an unusual number of reporters surrounding him Tuesday and microphones near his face, the 6-foot-3 guard said he “never had an alcohol problem.” He also plans to abandon social media and let his actions speak for him.
Asked if two weeks was enough to clear up his problems, Morant replied it is an “ongoing process.”
“I went there to counseling to learn how to manage stress,” Morant said. “Cope with stress in a positive way, instead of ways I’ve tried to deal with it before that caused me to make makes.”
Morant, who signed a five-year supermax contract with Memphis last summer, said he’s focused on growing as a leader as his stardom rises and he continues to garner business deals such as his own Ja1 shoe for Nike.
He was on the bench in street clothes Monday night when Memphis beat Dallas 112-108 with the Grizzlies giving him time to condition himself after two weeks away.

During his absence, Memphis went 6-3 and returned to the second spot in the Western Conference just 3 1/2 games behind Denver.