May 9, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) sits on the bench against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter of game four of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Memphis Grizzlies revealed that star Ja Morant is doubtful to return for the remainder of the NBA Playoffs due to his right knee injury.
The Memphis Grizzlies were feeling great after a Game 2 win over the Golden State Warriors in the second round. But in Game 3, star Ja Morant left the game due to a right knee injury and was ruled out of Game 4. On Tuesday, May 10, the team announced some rather bad news regarding Morant’s status.
Memphis announced that Morant is doubtful to return for the remainder of the playoffs due to a bone bruise in his right knee. Morant underwent an MRI, which confirmed the injury.
Grizzlies announce Ja Morant doubtful to return for remainder of NBA Playoffs
The Grizzlies have expressed their belief that the injury occurred when Jordan Poole of the Warriors made a play for the ball and grabbed Morant’s right knee in the process. Even so, the league said that Poole would not be disciplined because of that play.
Morant had been stellar throughout this run in the NBA Playoffs, as he helped the team advance out of the fist round since 2015 after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. Not only that, but he joined LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players in NBA history to have multiple 45-point playoff performances before turning 23-years-old.
Through nine games in this Grizzlies playoff run, Morant averaged 27.1 points, 9.8 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 44.0-percent from the field and 34.0-percent from the three-point line.
The Grizzlies did hold a lead over the Warriors entering the fourth quarter of Game 4, but they lost 101-98. With that, Memphis is now 20-6 without Morant in the lineup this season.
Memphis will look to avoid elimination with a Game 5 win on Wednesday, May 11, as the series returns to the FedEx Forum.