Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Guard Ja Morantwho lately made his returns from eight-game hiatus attributable to hip damageEast overview of the damage report with a knee damage.
Within the Grizzlies’ most up-to-date 123-98 win over the Portland Path Blazers, Morant appeared to bump knees with a Blazers defender whereas preventing for a unfastened ball. Morant completed the sport with 22 factors and 11 assists in 23 minutes of play. He didn’t play for the ultimate eight minutes of this sport.
After watching the Grizzlies enhance to 11-7 in his return, Morant introduced some readability on his knee damage, which the group describes as a left knee contusion.
“Somewhat bit knee-to-knee,” Morant stated, through Damichael Cole of Business Attraction. “Everybody is aware of I get again up each time. …Little fast dart, step apart and maintain it now.
Whereas simply getting back from his hip damage, Morant is again on the damage checklist and can miss Wednesday night time’s pre-Thanksgiving sport in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. This would be the tenth sport of the season that Morant won’t play. He’ll solely be allowed to overlook seven further video games earlier than turning into ineligible for end-of-season awards and honors like group MVP and All-NBA alternatives.
Whereas neither Morant nor the Grizzlies are overly involved in regards to the knee damage, they’re being cautious of their method. Morant has solely performed in 18 video games for the reason that begin of the 2023-24 season attributable to damage, so Memphis will take further steps to make sure he’s 100% earlier than taking part in.
The Grizzlies’ method with out Ja Morant
With out Morant on the court docket, the Grizzlies have managed to keep up their success due to the emergence of some unlikely names.
Scotty Pippen Jr., who spent final season proving himself on a two-way contract, and rookie Jaylen Wells have been the Grizzlies’ unsung heroes by way of the primary month of the 2024-25 season together with Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Sensible and others endure from minor sicknesses.
Pippen solidified himself because the Grizzlies’ backup level guard behind Morant, averaging 12.1 factors, 5.8 assists and three.9 rebounds in 18 whole video games, together with eight begins. Between his toughness and passing talents, Pippen reminded Grizzlies followers of what that they had with Tyus Jones only a few years in the past.
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Wells, who was an afterthought early within the yr as a second-round decide, began in 13 of the 18 video games he performed attributable to his two-way depth and taking pictures capability. three factors. With the same mildew to Bane’s, the The Grizzlies used Wells’ size and taking pictures to make him an impactful two-way wing early in his profession.
These two will proceed to see their utilization improve with Morant sitting out in opposition to the Pistons on Wednesday night time. Bane and Sensible can even tackle main ball-handling duties.
As for the exact timeline of Morant’s new knee damage, the group is not involved about him lacking an prolonged time frame like he did along with his hip damage. It is even potential that it might solely lead to a one-game absence, as Morant might return Friday for Memphis’ ultimate NBA Cup sport in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The group will present additional updates on its standing following Wednesday night time’s sport.
