Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will miss Game 4 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday with a hip injury, according to an ESPN report.
Morant exited Thursday’s Game 3, a 114-108 Thunder win, with just over three minutes remaining in the first half after a collision with OKC guard Lu Dort.
With a two-on-one fastbreak, Morant received the ball and attempted to go airborne to finish at the rim. As he launched, Dort turned around to defend the pass and ensuing shot attempt, losing his balance and ultimately knocking Morant out of the air.
Morant then fell on his hip, writhing in pain on the floor. He eventually returned to his feet to shoot a pair of free throws before being helped to the Grizzlies’ locker room. He wouldn’t return, ruled out with the hip injury that’ll sideline him on Saturday.
“Tough one. I hope he’s OK,” Dort said. “I was running back, making the hustle play for my team. I was running quick, stopped on the dime. I didn’t know he was behind me and I was slipping. Tried to make a play on the ball, but we just ran into each other, he fell down. Obviously they need him. I didn’t mean to hit him like that.”
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At the time of his exit, the Grizzlies held a 27-point lead. Morant had 15 points and five assists while shooting 6 of 11 from the field, a plus-16 in 15 first-half minutes and a large catalyst in building one of the largest deficits the Thunder has faced all season.
Prior to his hip injury, Morant had notably been dealing with an ankle sprain, noting that he’d received pain-killing injections leading up to Memphis’ play-in win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Support Joel’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Game 4: Thunder vs. Grizzlies
TIPOFF: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. (TNT, FDSN)
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