Heading into Game 4 of the Grizzlies-Warriors playoff series, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Ja Morant would miss the game due to a knee injury he suffered in Game 3.
Grizzlies‘ Ja Morant (right knee) is likely to miss Game 4 vs. Warriors, coach Taylor Jenkins says.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 8, 2022
However, Morant is now listed as doubtful on the injury report for Game 4. He was seen walking into the Grizzlies shootaround on Monday morning, but according to Mark Medina, he was in street clothes and didn’t participate in “any on-court work.” Medina also reported that the Grizzlies are still “working through” Morant’s injury while declining to share any details on Morant’s MRI results.
Morant is currently on the injury report as doubtful for game four. https://t.co/RQPCv0MbSN
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) May 9, 2022
The Grizzlies were 20-5 when Morant wasn’t in the lineup this season. Something that Coach Steve Kerr gave Memphis plenty of credit for.
“They’re a hell of a team — They’re really deep.”
Steve Kerr on if Ja Morant doesn't play for the Grizzlies tonight: "Memphis went 20-5 without him. They're a hell of a team. … They're really deep."
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) May 9, 2022
The controversy behind Morant’s injury has picked up quite a bit with Morant, in a since-deleted tweet, calling out Jordan Poole and the Warriors for “going against the code,” something Kerr rallied around after Gary Payton II suffered a fractured elbow during Game 2. The injury might’ve occurred after Jordan Poole accidentally grabbed at Morant’s knee while attempting to force a turnover.
Some fans had fought back against the narrative, claiming that the injury more than likely occurred earlier when Morant collided with Klay Thompson as he attempted to close out on Splash Brothers’ long-distance attempt. Some even pointed out that Morant tripped Stephen Curry as the two-time MVP drove past him. When Thompson heard about Morant’s claim, he laughed, outright dismissing the notion Poole could do that.
“I don’t even think he’s strong enough to affect somebody’s knee,” Thompson said. “We’re not out there trying to hurt people or trying to club people in the back of the head on a fast break.”
Klay Thompson started laughing when he heard Ja Morant tweeted that Jordan Poole broke the code.
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) May 8, 2022
"I don't even think he's strong enough to affect somebody's knee. We're not out there trying to hurt people, or trying to club people in the back of the head on a fast break." pic.twitter.com/Srz8FZurJ1
The Grizzlies and Warriors will lock horns on Monday, with the Warriors looking to take a 3-1 series lead with a Game 4 win.
