Viewership for the NBA's Christmas Day slate was up 5% from last season, with the five games averaging a 1.8 rating with 4.31 million viewers.

The Bucks-Celtics matchup recorded the highest viewership in the day with 6.08 million viewers and a 2.25 rating. Viewership was up 17% from last year's equivalent game, with the Celtics win also representing the first time since 1995 that the most-watched Christmas Day did not feature Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James. 

Three out of the five games registered a double-digit increase in viewership. The Grizzlies-Warriors and Lakers-Mavs were both down in ratings from their equivalent time slots last season.

With an average of 1.9 and 4.07 million viewers, the Sixers-Knicks was the most-watched Noon ET Christmas Day game since 2011.

The Suns-Nuggets was also the most-watched late-night Christmas game since 2015. 

Danny Green has yet to suit up in a game for the Memphis Grizzlies. That's something Green hopes to rectify before the All-Star Break in mid-February.

Green was interviewed by ESPN during the Grizzlies win at the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. During that interview, Green said "The knee is going smoothly. We're in a good pace and hopefully you'll see me before the break. That's the target right now."

Green tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in last season's playoffs. Memphis acquired Green and a 2022 first-round pick (which became David Roddy) in exchange for De'Anthony Melton.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins wouldn't commit to a timeline for Green, but said the veteran wing is looking better each day.

"I'm liking what I'm seeing on the court. He's getting challenged every single day medically, physically, basketball-wise," Jenkins said. "So hopefully, sooner rather than later, he's back. Timelines will be timelines, but he's progressing really well."

Desmond Bane was upgraded to questionable for the Memphis Grizzlies game on Friday at the Phoenix Suns. The upgraded status, along with comments made in recent days, indicate Bane is closing in on returning after a 17-game absence. If Bane doesn't return Friday, he could be back for the Grizzlies Christmas Day matchup at the Golden State Warriors.

Bane was off to a terrific start this season before spraining his right big toe in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 11. That injury has caused Bane to miss over a month's worth of action.

In 12 games, Bane was putting together an early All-Star case. He's averaged 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, all of which are easily career-highs. Bane also has terrific 46/45/91 shooting splits.

Ja Morant did a recent interview with Malika Andrews of ESPN. The two touched on a lot of items about Morant's season and the Memphis Grizzlies getting off to a good start. When Andrews asked Morant about who Memphis would need to beat to get to where they want to be, the Grizzlies star gave a surprising answer.

Andrews asked Morant "Who do you look at around the league as you're studying and say, 'We're gonna have to run through them'?". Morant quickly answered, "Celtics."

Andrews followed up by asking, "No one in the West?" Morant smiled and said, "Nah. I'm fine in the West."

The Grizzlies are currently 19-11 and tied atop the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets. Memphis finished 56-26 a season ago and lost in the Western Conference semifinals to the Golden State Warriors.

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Ja Morant was ejected with 43 seconds to play in the first half during Saturday night's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morant was confused as to why he was ejected from the game.

"I got my first tech for saying I got hit in my (expletive) face. Didn't curse at him,'' Morant said. "Another situation where he's in my conversation and I get another tech for talking with a fan. I feel like when these fans came here, went online to buy these tickets, they didn't say (official) Ray (Acosta's) name to come watch."

After the ejection, Morant called his father, who brought his phone over to the fans Morant had been talking with. Morant thanked them for supporting him and for coming out to the game.

"They came to support us,'' Morant said after the game. "They came to watch us play. I don't care about getting fined."

In a pool report following the game, lead official John Goble said Morant's first technical foul was "use of profanity directed at an official". Goble said Morant received his second technical foul, and ejection, for "making a comment questioning the integrity of an official."

Desmond Bane is set to be out for at least another 3-4 more weeks, the Memphis Grizzlies announced.

Bane, who suffered a sprained big toe, has been out since November 11.

The Grizzlies added that if Bane responds positively to a "reloading protocol," he will be able to make this return at the end of this month. 

Ja Morant will receive a new signature shoe with Nike in the near future, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Morant and Nike have been working on this for several months. 

Nike also parted ways with Kyrie Irving on Monday in what had been a long anticipated move.

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has been fined $35,000 for confronting and directing inappropriate language toward a game official. In addition, Morant failed to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection.

Morant was ejected with 1:22 to play on Wednesday's game at the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Grizzlies went on to lose to the Wolves 109-101.