The Memphis Grizzlies are sitting at second seed in the Western Conference but they couldn’t afford Ja Morant’s absence for long. His injury came at a very crucial time when the team needed him the most. However with recent reports coming out, it seems the Grizzlies will face more troubles going ahead.
While the Grizzlies are going through a challenging stretch of the season, they are faced with the new they feared the most. Morant sustained an AC joint sprain after a collision with New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis during a recent game. As per the latest reports,he is placed on a week-to-week recovery timeline.
In their most recent outing, the Grizzlies faced the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately, they suffered a disappointing 130-106 defeat that also brought down their hopes of snapping a 10-game winning streak to a halt. Morant’s injury update comes at a time when the team is already feeling the effects of a spate of injuries to their roster. With Morant sidelined, along with Santi Aldama and Marcus Smart, Memphis’ depth is being put to the test.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical update for Ja Morant: pic.twitter.com/23eKerTN6j
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) December 31, 2024
Other than the team’s consistent struggles over the recent years, Grizzlies playoff berth is also at stake. His absence is killing it on both sides. Other than the team playing 13 games without their star point guard, NBA’s 65-game threshold for postseason awards is something they should worry parallely.
However, the Grizzlies have shown resilience in the face of adversity. So far this season, they have managed an impressive 8-5 record without Morant in the lineup. Their record includes a five-game winning streak prior to their recent loss.
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Golden State Warriors Could Leverage Ja Morant’s Absence
The Golden State Warriors are at a crucial turning point in their season. They are already struggling with a worrying record of 4-13 over their last 17 games. This slump no longer sits equal with their impressive 12-3 start earlier in the year. And now they are searching for answers. Their recent 144-93 defeat to the Grizzlies marked the largest margin of victory in any NBA game this season.
Grizzlies beat the Warriors by 51 points 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZQnvGYEsp4
— ESPN (@espn) December 20, 2024
Fortunately for the Warriors, they may catch a break when they face the Grizzlies again on January 4. The star guard Ja Morant is expected to miss the matchup due to a shoulder injury. The absence of the two-time All-Star could provide a critical opportunity for Golden State to regain some momentum. and make a statement within the tightly contested Western Conference.
The Bay Area team previously defeated a Morant-less Grizzlies squad in November. And they are most likely to put their all in to replicate the game. However, with Memphis possessing the fifth-best offense and defense in the NBA, the match won’t be an easy one for the Warriors.
