West Notes: Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Spurs, Mavs, Luka Doncic

Grizzlies

Point guard Ja Morant gave another example that he can truly do it all, passing for a career-high 17 assists, to go with 19 points, in Thursday’s road win over the Raptors.

“It’s super impressive,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. “Tons of credit to Ja. It just sets a tone for us. His unselfishness, we talk about that all the time.”

Forward Dillon Brooks offered similar praise.

“He’s able to get three, four guys on him and find us for 3s, find us for dump offs,” Brooks said. “He’s a one-in-a-generation talent.”

• Overall, Brooks and the Grizzlies hope the win in Toronto is a sign of things to come. “If we’re clicking like this, a lot of teams can’t beat us,” Brooks said.

Spurs

Small forward Stanley Johnson has been with the Spurs for less than a month but is already trying to play the role of vocal leader.

“The thing that is consistent with good teams is that they are very vocal,” Johnson said, via Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “That’s pretty much the only way I can navigate myself around the court is to ask my teammates questions.

“I’m trying to be vocal as much as I can, and hope it’s contagious.”

• Shooting guard Romeo Langford scored a career-high 23 points in Thursday’s home win over the Knicks. His previous high was 19 vs. the Heat on Dec. 19. So it’s safe to say he’s having a good month. Langford entered Thursday averaging 5.9 points.

Mavericks

Star guard Luka Doncic followed his 60-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist eruption with 35 points, 13 assists and 12 boards in Thursday’s win over the Rockets.

Pedestrian numbers — for Doncic, anyway.

“I thought this was a great team win,” coach Jason Kidd told reporters. “We didn’t have to rely on Luka.”

Doncic has scored an NBA-record 95 points in his back-to-back triple-doubles.

“It’s always been his passing that has been the thing that has really separated him from everybody else, but now he’s adding the scoring to the passing, which makes him just a nightmare to defend and prepare for,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said.

• The Mavs (20-16) are four games above .500 for the first time this season.