Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Morant aggravates tissue, to be game-time call

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 18 April 2023 13:53

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant will be a game-time decision for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers because of bruising in his right hand, coach Taylor Jenkins said Tuesday.

X-rays after the Grizzlies' loss in Game 1 on Sunday were negative. An MRI on Monday revealed an aggravation of soft tissue bruising in Morant's hand. The injury was originally suffered in Memphis' April 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but it was made worse when Morant used his right hand to break his fall after committing a charge against Lakers big man Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter Sunday.

Jenkins said that Morant did some shooting and dribbling with his right hand during Tuesday's practice and that his "symptoms are slightly improving."

"He's progressing," Jenkins said Tuesday. "He's dribbling and shooting as much as he can. As I said, he's got some pain he's dealing with, so it's kind of a tolerance thing. He's got some stiffness in his hand that he's kind of slowly getting through. We'll see how he wakes up [Wednesday]."

Morant, who was not made available to the media, did not wear a wrap or any extra protection on his hand during practice. A Grizzlies staffer wrapped it with ice after practice, when Morant playfully shot with his left hand while teammates went through their normal shooting routines.

Morant, who averaged 26.2 points and 8.1 assists per game during the regular season, did not return after aggravating the injury with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday. He said after the loss that he was in "a good bit of pain" and described his Game 2 availability as "in jeopardy."

Lakers coach Darvin Ham said his team would continue to prepare for Game 2 as if Morant will be playing.

"We don't try to assume anything or try to make any predictions," Ham said. "We just make sure we cover Plan A, Plan B. Plan A, he plays; Plan B, what type of adjustments they'll make. And obviously they have their lineups that they play with without him when he's been hurt in the past. So the biggest thing for us is to more so focus on what we're doing."

It is the second consecutive postseason that Morant, who had 18 points, 2 assists and 6 turnovers in the loss to the Lakers, has been injured. A knee injury kept Morant out for the final three games of last season's Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, who won in six games.

The Grizzlies consider Tyus Jones to be the NBA's best backup point guard and have had success with him filling in for Morant as a starter. Memphis is 32-13 with Jones in the starting lineup over the past two seasons, including 13-9 this season.

The Grizzlies went 6-3 in the nine games Morant missed in March, when he served an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the league, allowing them to maintain their grip on the Western Conference's No. 2 seed despite their superstar's absence. Jones averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 assists and only 1.3 turnovers per game during that stretch.

"Tyus has been phenomenal when he's had to step into the starting role," Jenkins said. "He'll be prepared if Ja ends up being out for tomorrow. We've been down this road before."

ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.

Read 158 times

Soccer

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool fought back from 2-1 down on Sunday to secure a 3-2 victo...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated