MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – APRIL 24: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after falling to the … More
Memphis guard Ja Morant is the latest NBA star to get injured during the NBA playoffs.
Morant was knocked out of the Grizzlies’ playoff game against Oklahoma City on Thursday night with a left hip injury after taking a hard fall under the basket late in the first half.
Morant went down hard with just over three minutes remaining in the half and was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second half after not joining the team at the start of the third quarter. Luke Kennard took his place in the Memphis lineup.
Jimmy Butler of the Golden State Warriors (glut) and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics (wrist) have also suffered injuries during the playoffs. Tatum is listed as day-to-day, while ESPN reported Butler is in “serious jeopardy” of missing Game 3 Saturday night in Golden State.
Without Morant in the lineup, the Thunder stormed back from a 29-point deficit and beat the Grizzlies 114-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game that Morant will undergo further evaluation Friday “and then we’ll know more.”
Asked how much his absence affected the Grizzlies play in the second half, Iisalo replied: “I would say quite drastically from the end result. But not only the energy, but also the execution.”
Memphis was on a fast break after a Thunder turnover. Scotty Pippen was driving to the basket when he dropped the ball off to Morant at the rim. Luguentz Dort, who was stumbling at the time, fell into Morant while he was in the air, sending the Morant crashing to the floor. After shooting the ensuing free throws, Morant went to the locker room with Memphis up 67-40.
Morant was being helped to the locker room but returned — noticeably limping — to shoot the free throws. He missed both, but the ball went out of bounds, allowing Morant to leave the game. He took his jersey off as he was helped off the floor.
The play was reviewed for a flagrant foul, but was ruled a common foul.
Morant had 15 points and five assists when he left the game.
(The AP contributed reporting)
