2 min read • May 08, 2022
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Despite Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins words Sunday, star point guard Ja Morant should not be counted out yet for Monday's Game 4 matchup against the Warriors.
Ja Morant Injury Update
Morant's right knee injury, and the potential cause of the injury, have been a heavy focus since he exited the Game 3 loss Saturday night.
The 22-year-old star point guard is officially listed as doubtful for Game 4.
Jenkins, talking to reporters on Sunday, insisted that Morant's knee injury was caused by Warriors guard Jordan Poole's grab and yank while attempting to get a steal late in the fourth quarter.
“As I said last night, just trying to be matter of fact here, and this is what Ja says, what our medical team has said after reviewing the play, Ja was playing great, feeling great all game and that the grab of the knee is what triggered the potential injury and why we took Ja out of the game,” Jenkins said. "Nothing’s changed from there. That’s the play that triggered this and he’s got further evaluation going on. … There’s probably a really good chance he doesn’t play tomorrow.”
Upon reviewing multiple video angles of the play, the Pro Basketball Docs did not see any specific injury mechanism caused by Poole's actions. As detailed last night, the Pro Basketball Docs' opinion on that has not changed.
It is highly unlikely that Morant has an MCL sprain or any structural damage caused by the play.
However, it is possible that the knee grab triggered a tendonitis or chronic knee soreness issue that Morant has managed this season.
It may have also happened when he jumped to contest Klay Thompson's jumper early in the second half. He went knee-to-knee with Thompson, but remained in the game.
Morant missed 11 games in late March/early April this season with right knee soreness.
That issue was not specifically labeled as tendonitis and Jenkins has not revealed any details about Morant's current knee ailment, but tendonitis or soreness from overuse are distinct possibilities, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.
There has been no news about Morant undergoing an MRI, which is a positive sign for his availability this series and the rest of the playoffs.
No injury report for Monday night's Game 4 has been released.
Injury Impact on Grizzlies
If Morant does miss Game 4, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. will have to carry the offense.
Bane averaged 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 23 games without Morant this season. Jackson averaged 18.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21 games without Morant.
However, Tyus Jones may be the main stat beneficiary if the Grizzlies star point guard is out.
The Grizzlies had an astounding record of 20-5 without Morant and Jones was a huge part of that. He averaged 12.7 points, 6.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds in those games.
Grizzlies vs. Warriors Game 4 Odds
The Grizzlies are 10-point underdogs in the Game 4 and the over/under is 224, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Memphis is +640 to win the series.
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