Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Misses Game 2 Win Because Of Sore Right Hand
The Memphis Grizzlies were without the services of their point guard, Ja Morant, during their victorious game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Morant was unable to play due to experiencing soreness in his right hand.
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The Grizzlies made a pre-game announcement an hour before the start of Game 2 stating that Morant wouldn’t be playing due to soft tissue bruises in his hand.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins stated that the team is still dealing with some discomfort and slight agony after the game on Wednesday. The decision to sit out a player was a unanimous one, despite the player’s strong desire to participate. The team took into account medical test results, the importance of the game, and the extra days of rest before the next game. However, the coach expressed hope that the player’s recent progress will result in their return to the court sooner than expected.
“Can’t guarantee when that’s gonna be, but it’s just one of those things that we just couldn’t pull it to have him in tonight. But hopefully over the next couple days there’s more significant improvement.”
As per Jenkins’ pregame press conference, Morant’s condition has improved slightly, but a final decision on his availability will only be made after his warmup routine. However, Morant did not follow his usual pregame routine and did not step on the FedExForum floor.
Following the Grizzlies’ loss in Game 1 on Sunday, X-rays were performed, but they did not show any damage. However, an MRI conducted on Monday showed that Morant’s hand was more seriously bruised than initially thought. The injury had occurred during Memphis’ victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, and it was exacerbated when Morant used his right hand to cushion his fall after committing a foul against Lakers center Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Morant’s regular season statistics showed an average of 26.2 points and 8.1 assists per game. Unfortunately, he aggravated his injury during the fourth quarter on Sunday and did not return. Morant expressed that he was experiencing a significant amount of pain and his availability for Game 2 is uncertain.
Tyus Jones is highly regarded by the Grizzlies as the top backup point guard in the NBA. The team has had positive outcomes when he has taken over as a starter for Morant. Specifically, over the past two seasons, Memphis has achieved a record of 32-13 with Jones as a starter, with a current season record of 13-9.
During March, Morant was suspended for eight games due to his misconduct in the league. As a result, the Grizzlies managed to secure six victories out of the nine games that he missed, which helped them to maintain their position as the second seed in the Western Conference. Jones played a significant role in their success during that period, averaging 16.3 points, 8.2 assists, and committing only 1.3 turnovers per game.
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