Ja Morant’s sprained shoulder places a hitch within the resurgent Grizzlies’ journey again to the playoffs.
On Monday, Memphis introduced Morant suffered a proper shoulder sprain throughout the staff’s 132-124 Friday night time win in opposition to the Pelicans and is taken into account week-to-week.
As the Associated Press noted, he suffered a torn labrum in the identical shoulder final season, ending his season after solely 9 video games on Jan. 5, 2024.
The Grizzlies had the league’s worst harm luck final season, ensuing of their ugly 27-55 file, snapping the franchise’s streak of three consecutive playoff appearances.
Morant has began 20 video games this season and is second on the staff in scoring (21.2 factors per recreation), trailing heart Jaren Jackson Jr. (21.6 factors per recreation).
Morant leads the Grizzlies in assists (7.9) whereas additionally averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per recreation.
The Grizzlies are 8-5 with out Morant this season, however seven of these wins have come in opposition to groups with shedding information.
Backup level guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has crammed in admirably in 12 begins, averaging 14.6 factors, 6.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per recreation.
Nonetheless, shedding Morant might be a key take a look at for the Grizzlies (22-11, second within the Western Convention). Over the subsequent week, they play the Suns (15-16, eleventh in Western Convention), Kings (13-19, twelfth in Western Convention) and Warriors (16-15, ninth in Western Convention) on the street and the Mavericks (20-12, fourth in Western Convention) at residence.
If Morant’s absence extends past January 6, 2025, Memphis may also be with out its lead guard for video games in opposition to the Rockets (21-11, third in Western Convention) on Jan. 9 and 13 and the Timberwolves (17-14, eighth in Western Convention) on Jan. 11.
The Grizzlies have been blown out, 130-106, by the Thunder (26-5, first in Western Convention) on Sunday of their first recreation since Morant’s shoulder harm.
Memphis flunked its first examination. The subsequent couple of weeks will reveal Morant’s value.
