NBA London Game 2026: Ja Morant Leads Grizzlies Past Magic at The O2
The NBA London Game 2026 was the league’s first regular-season game in the UK since 2019, and Ja Morant made it his night. On 18 January, in front of 18,424 fans at The O2, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Orlando Magic 126-109. Morant finished with 24 points, 13 assists and 5 rebounds in just 28 minutes.
The result also split the teams’ European double-header. Three days earlier in Berlin, the Magic had won 118-111.
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Memphis Took Over the NBA London Game 2026 Early
The game was effectively decided in the first quarter. Memphis scored 40 points in the opening 12 minutes to Orlando’s 23, and the Magic never got within touching distance again. Each of the remaining three quarters was close, but a 17-point head start was too much.
Morant ran the show. He shot 7 of 13 from the field and hit 3 of his 4 three-pointers, playing only 28 minutes because the game was never really in doubt. Jock Landale added 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 17.
Orlando’s Revenge Plan Fell Flat
The Magic arrived in London on a high. In Berlin, Anthony Black’s late dunk over four Memphis defenders had gone viral and sealed the win in front of a crowd cheering Orlando’s three German-born players: Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Tristan da Silva.
London was different. Black again led Orlando with 19 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 and 7 rebounds, and Paolo Banchero finished one assist short of a triple-double with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. None of it made up for the first-quarter collapse.
Why the London Game Matters
For UK basketball fans, the bigger story was the return itself. The NBA had been away from London for seven years, and the Magic–Grizzlies game was the 10th regular-season game played at The O2 since the Nets and Raptors opened the series in 2011.
It won’t be the last. The league has confirmed plans to keep growing in Britain, including its first-ever Manchester game in 2027 (Wikipedia: NBA London Game).
NBA London Game 2026: Box Score Highlights
| Grizzlies | Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 126 | 109 |
| 1st quarter | 40 | 23 |
| Top scorer | Ja Morant – 24 pts, 13 ast, 5 reb | Anthony Black – 19 pts, 6 ast |
| Second | Jock Landale – 21 pts, 8 reb | Wendell Carter Jr. – 18 pts, 7 reb |
| Third | Jaren Jackson Jr. – 17 pts | Paolo Banchero – 16 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast |
Venue: The O2, London · Attendance: 18,424 · Date: 18 January 2026
Every NBA Regular-Season Game in London
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 4 Mar 2011 | Nets 116, Raptors 103 |
| 5 Mar 2011 | Nets 137, Raptors 136 (3OT) |
| 17 Jan 2013 | Knicks 102, Pistons 87 |
| 16 Jan 2014 | Nets 127, Hawks 110 |
| 15 Jan 2015 | Bucks 95, Knicks 79 |
| 14 Jan 2016 | Raptors 106, Magic 103 (OT) |
| 12 Jan 2017 | Nuggets 140, Pacers 112 |
| 11 Jan 2018 | Celtics 114, 76ers 103 |
| 17 Jan 2019 | Wizards 101, Knicks 100 |
| 18 Jan 2026 | Grizzlies 126, Magic 109 |
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Sources: Basketball-Reference box score, NBA.com game summary, Wikipedia: NBA London Game.
