If the Memphis Grizzlies are going to bounce back from their Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, they'll have to do it without Ja Morant.
The All-Star point guard has been ruled out for Game 2 on Wednesday with right hand soreness, the Grizzlies announced. He had previously been considered questionable, but was reported to be a game-time decision.
Morant sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Game 1, when he fell after a drive into the paint and landed hard on his right hand. He left the game and did not return.
Ja Morant headed to the locker room with an apparent injury after this play. pic.twitter.com/MZOrSN9Tmz
— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2023
Morant wasn't optimistic about his chances for Game 2 three days later. He was seen practicing with a heavy wrap on his injured hand on Tuesday, but still reportedly got some dribbling and shooting in.
The question now turns to whether or not Morant will be ready for Game 3 in Los Angeles on Saturday, and if the Grizzlies will be facing a 2-0 hole that day.
It goes without saying that the Grizzlies have a drastically reduced chance of getting past the Lakers without Morant. The Lakers were already looking more dangerous than your typical No. 7 seed after finishing the season on a 17-8 run, but Memphis simply isn't the same team without their top player.
Morant finished the regular season averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game, but missed several games in March after a series of gun-related incidents resulted in the Grizzlies sidelining him and the NBA suspending him while he sought help for his mental health.
The Grizzlies went 40-21 in games Morant played this season and 11-10 in games he missed.
