The Los Angeles Lakers earned a gritty 116-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, and one of the unsung heroes of the night was Max Christie. The second-year guard delivered an outstanding defensive performance against Ja Morant, holding the Grizzlies’ star to a 0-6 shooting night when matched up against him. While Morant finished with 20 points, he shot just 6-21 from the field, largely due to Christie’s relentless defense.
here's Max Christie being the primary defender of Ja Morant last night 🔒 pic.twitter.com/siKWbSYX5C
— swish (@jcrsm_2195) December 16, 2024
Max Christie put on a defensive clinic last night, taking on the daunting task of guarding Ja Morant and completely neutralizing the Grizzlies star. On the very first possession, Christie set the tone by staying with Morant all the way to the rim and rejecting his layup attempt with a perfectly timed block. This moment signaled that Christie was prepared for the challenge and wasn’t going to give Morant anything easy.
The next possession further showcased Christie’s defensive prowess. Pressuring Morant tightly, Christie forced him to lose his balance momentarily, allowing Rui Hachimura to capitalize by stealing the ball. The Lakers turned defense into offense with a fast-break layup by Hachimura, a sequence that highlighted Christie’s impact on both ends of the floor.
As the game progressed, Christie continued to smother Morant. On one possession, he stayed glued to Morant during an attempted mid-range jumper, going vertical and forcing an airball. The defensive pressure was unrelenting. Even when Morant deployed his signature spin move and drove to the basket, Christie was right there to contest the shot, forcing another miss at the rim.
Later, Morant again tried to attack the rim with aggression, but Christie’s lateral quickness and use of verticality prevented a clean finish. Even when Morant managed to create a slight separation on another possession, Christie’s recovery speed allowed him to close the gap, contest the shot, and force yet another miss.
On Morant’s final attempt, he attempted to bully his way to the rim, but Christie stood his ground, absorbing the contact and making life miserable for the Grizzlies’ star with yet another forced miss.
Morant’s overall stat line—20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists—was overshadowed by his inefficiency. Shooting just 6-21 from the field and 2-7 from three-point range, the Grizzlies’ star struggled to find his rhythm, especially when Christie was guarding him.
While Christie’s offensive contributions were modest—7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on 1-3 shooting—his defensive impact was immense. Over the past few games, Christie has stepped into a larger role, starting the last three contests and consistently guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter players.
Christie’s defensive prowess has earned praise from Anthony Davis and head coach J.J. Redick, who both highlighted his ability to make life difficult for elite guards. With averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 41.7% from the field, Christie’s statistical output may not jump off the page, but his value as a defensive stopper is becoming undeniable.
Christie’s effort against Morant showcases why the Lakers invested in him with a four-year, $32 million contract. His ability to guard high-level scorers gives the Lakers an edge, especially in close games. As Christie continues to grow, his defense will remain a cornerstone of his contribution to the team. For now, his standout performance against Morant solidifies his place as a key rotational piece for the Lakers.
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