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[Saba Sports News] Ja Morant’s frustrations with officiating boiled over Thursday night, leading to his ejection during the Memphis Grizzlies’ game against the Sacramento Kings.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter when Morant was called for a shooting foul while guarding DeMar DeRozan in the mid-post. The contact appeared minimal, with some suggesting DeRozan initiated it. Morant’s animated protest led to a technical foul from referee John Butler, adding to an earlier technical from the same quarter for arguing a non-call. The two technicals resulted in Morant’s automatic ejection.
Replays suggested Morant was in a legal guarding position, adding fuel to his frustration. At the time, the two-time All-Star had a rough night offensively, scoring just 8 points on 2/13 shooting. Despite his ejection, the Grizzlies secured a 115-110 victory, with seven players scoring in double figures, including Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, who led with 18 points each.
Morant, averaging 22.0 points per game this season (his lowest since year two), has faced a slow start compounded by a recent hip injury. The questionable ejection, not referee Butler’s first controversial moment, added to Morant’s challenging night.