Morant dazzles in preseason debut for Memphis

Ja Morant didn’t keep Memphis fans waiting long for his first basket.

Morant, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, scored off a baseline drive on the game’s first possession and finished with 10 points and seven assists as Memphis topped Maccabi Haifa 123-88 on Sunday in the Grizzlies’ preseason opener.

Morant played 18 1/2 minutes, shooting 5 for 8 from the floor and adding three rebounds. He checked out for the final time midway through the third quarter.

He showed some flashes of what Grizzlies fans can expect this season, particularly a sequence in the final minute of the first quarter when he had a dunk, then a driving left-handed layup, then found Bruno Caboclo for a 3-pointer to end the period and give Memphis a 26-16 lead.

In the second quarter, Morant had assists on consecutive possessions to push Memphis’ lead out to 17 and the Grizzlies remained in control from there.

Later Sunday, Boston plays Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers meet the Shanghai Sharks.

GRIZZLIES 123, MACCABI HAIFA 88

At Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 19 points and Grayson Allen had 18 on 7-for-10 shooting as the Grizzlies won easily.

Dillon Brooks scored 16 points for Memphis. Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas was held out with a sore foot that wasn’t believed to be serious.

James Young, who appeared in 95 NBA games for Boston and Philadelphia, led Maccabi Haifa with 31 points. Norris Cole, a two-time NBA champion with Miami, added 13.