2 min read • March 25, 2022
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Ja Morant will be out for at least the next two weeks with what the No. 2 seed Grizzlies are calling a tweaked right knee.
Morant has missed the last two games, both wins, since appearing to injure his right knee on a drive late in the Grizzlies’ loss to the Hawks on March 18. Head coach Taylor Jenkins described it as soreness after the game, and Morant has been a limited participant in practice, if participating at all, since.
Based on video, the ProBasketballDocs don’t see clear evidence of trauma or structural damage, meaning the key is whether the “tweak” is simply soreness from overuse or a symptom of tendinitis, or there is an underlying condition they discovered in the MRI.
The condition would likely be either a quad tendon strain or tendonitis that occurred on the final plant after his landing, but there is no way to be conclusive.
A two-week timeline would likely leave him out through Memphis’ April 7 game against the Nuggets, its 3rd-to-last game of the regular season. Jenkins said the team expects Morant back by the playoffs, which start on April 16. The Grizzlies’ final two games include matchups with the Suns, Warriors, and Jazz – the No. 1, 3, and 4 seeds in the West – as well as the Bucks, Nuggets, and Celtics.
The high-flying and aggressive young superstar previously missed 12 games with a left MCL sprain he suffered in late November.
Morant has missed a total of 17 games this season, and Memphis has gone 15-2 in his absence, seeing increased contributions from Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, and Tyus Jones.
Jones will continue to start in Morant’s absence and is averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 assists per game in 17 starts. The 25-year-old Duke product is even better in recent history, posting 16.4 points and 8.4 assists in his last five starts.
Morant, who is a virtual shoo-in for a spot on one of the All-NBA teams, is averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on 49.3% shooting in 56 games this season.
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