Related Post
Memphis Grizzlies rule Ja Morant out for Game 2 against Los Angeles Lakers due to the hand injury he aggravated falling in playoff opener
- Morant sat out the final two games of the Grizzlies season to rest the hand injury
- His head coach expressed optimism yesterday at Morant’s chances of playing
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Ja Morant sat out with an injured right hand Wednesday night as the Memphis Grizzlies tried to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole in their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The No. 2-seeded Grizzlies announced about an hour before tipoff that the two-time All-Star point guard was inactive.
Coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game that Morant had tested his hand and was getting more tests done before a final decision.
Morant hurt his right hand driving to the basket with 5:48 left in Sunday’s opening loss to the Lakers , appearing to awkwardly bend his hand as he hit the court.
The Memphis Grizzlies have declared Ja Morant as out with right hand soreness for Game 2
Morant was pictured with ice around his hand during Tuesday’s practice in an effort to heal
Morant suffered a hand injury and exited the game in the fourth quarter of Game 1 loss
He didn’t return after an X-ray was negative, and an MRI on Monday showed the fourth-year guard suffered no ligament damage.
The Grizzlies had listed Morant as questionable, with Jenkins calling Morant a game-time decision after a Tuesday practice where the guard was seen during the open portion using only his left hand to dribble and take a couple shots or rebound the ball.
Jenkins said Morant did test his right hand Tuesday by dribbling and shooting and would do more Wednesday.
Memphis did not hold a shootaround Wednesday morning.
Morant’s biggest issue is pain and bruising between the bones, though Jenkins said the guard’s symptoms had improved from Sunday.
He aggravated an injury from April 7, when Memphis clinched that No. 2 seed for a second straight season.
The point guard set a franchise scoring record with 26.2 points per game this season. He missed the final three games of the Grizzlies’ last playoff series, a six-game loss in the West semifinals last year to eventual champion Golden State, with an injured knee.
After suffering the injury he got up and ran quickly to the locker room to be attended to
Memphis has had success even when Morant is out by slotting Tyus Jones into the staring five
