Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Exits Game with Hip Injury in Frightening Fall
In a concerning turn of events, Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was forced to leave Thursday’s Game 3 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a hip injury sustained during a hard fall with 3:15 remaining in the second quarter. The Grizzlies ultimately lost the game 114-108, and Morant’s status for Saturday’s potential elimination game remains uncertain, according to ESPN.
Morant was seen on crutches in the tunnel by Memphis’ bench during the fourth quarter, sparking fears about the severity of the injury. Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo provided an update on Morant’s condition, stating that he is set to undergo further evaluations on Friday. "He’s going through further evaluations tomorrow," said Iisalo, who was unaware which hip Morant injured or the nature of the injury. "Then we’ll know more," ESPN reported.
The injury occurred when Morant crashed to the court after Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort fouled him on a high-flying attempt to finish on a fast break. After being helped to his feet, Morant limped to the line to take his free throws, missing both. He immediately checked out of the game and hobbled to the locker room, removing his jersey as he entered the tunnel. If Morant hadn’t attempted the free throws, he would have been automatically ruled out of the game, as noted by ESPN.
Dort approached Morant while he was at the line, tapping him on his chest and apologizing for the incident. "It’s a tough one," Dort said. "I was running back, making a hustle play for my team. I was running quick, stopped on a dime. I didn’t know he was behind me and I was slipping, so I still tried to make a play on the ball. … I hope he’s OK. I obviously didn’t mean to hit him like that," ESPN quoted Dort as saying.
Morant’s exit from the game did not seem to have a significant impact on the Grizzlies’ performance, as they maintained a substantial lead. The team led by 27 when Morant exited, and they expanded the lead to 29, the largest of the night, on the next possession. Morant finished with 15 points and 5 assists in 16 minutes before being injured, ESPN reported.
This latest injury setback is a concern for Morant, who was limited to 50 games during the regular season due to a variety of injuries. He suffered his most serious injury of the season — a posterior hip subluxation along with associated pelvic muscle strains — when he took a hard fall after a midair collision in a Nov. 6 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He missed the next eight games, according to ESPN. The Grizzlies will be anxiously awaiting news on Morant’s status for Saturday’s game, and fans will be holding their breath as they wait to see the star player back on the court.
The incident has raised questions about the physical toll of the NBA season on players, particularly those who have a history of injuries like Morant. As the playoffs progress, teams will be relying on their star players to perform at their best, and any injury setbacks could have significant implications for their chances of success. This latest development will be one to watch in the coming days, as reported by ESPN.
According to ESPN, Morant’s condition will continue to be monitored, and an update on his status is expected in the near future. The Grizzlies will be hoping that Morant can recover quickly and be available for the remainder of the playoffs.
The team will be focusing on their next game and will be working to ensure that they can secure a win without their star player. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the next update on Morant’s condition and will be hoping that he can return to the court soon.
In related news, other teams in the league will be keeping a close eye on the situation and will be preparing for the possibility of facing the Grizzlies without Morant. The NBA playoffs are known for their unpredictability, and injuries can have a significant impact on the outcome of games.
Sources:
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44843704/grizzlies-ja-morant-exits-vs-thunder-frightening-fall
