Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant picked up an ankle injury in the third quarter of their Play-In loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Though he returned to the floor and finished the game—an eventual 121-116 defeat—concerns linger over his availability moving forward.
The result now forces Memphis into a must-win clash to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They’ll take on the winner of the Mavericks-Kings 9-10 showdown.
Despite the setback, Morant has vowed to suit up for the Grizzlies’ final shot at keeping their playoff hopes alive.
“I’m playing. That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.”
Ja Morant finished the narrow loss to the Warriors with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, as the Grizzlies nearly erased a 20-point deficit. Controversial officiating decisions late in the game affected both sides, but clutch displays from Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry ultimately sealed Memphis’ fate.
Morant’s durability remains a concern—he’s appeared in just 177 of 328 possible games over the last four seasons, with both injuries and suspensions limiting his availability. He hasn’t played more than 61 games in a single campaign during that span.
Now facing elimination against either the Kings or Mavericks, the Grizzlies are depending on Morant to push through his latest setback. It’s win or go home—and Morant is ready to lay it all on the line for a shot at the top-seeded Thunder in Round 1.
