NEW ORLEANS — Ja Morant stood close to the tip of the Memphis bench, cheering on his teammates however leaving his proper arm hanging under his injured shoulder, because the Grizzlies closed out a 132-124 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night time.
Morant was harm when he crashed into a tough however authorized display screen set by Daniel Theis throughout the third quarter. The collision despatched Morant crashing to the ground in a method that led officers to initially whistle Theis for a foul earlier than overturning that decision on replay evaluate.
Morant walked to the locker room to be examined and finally returned to the bench however to not the sport. He used his left arm to level triumphantly at teammates after they hit clutch photographs within the ultimate minutes.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins had “no replace” on Morant’s situation after the sport. Just a few yr in the past, a torn labrum in the identical shoulder ended Morant’s 2023-24 season.
“Obviously, he took a pleasant shot there to the shoulder, however we’ll get extra of an analysis within the subsequent couple days,” Jenkins stated, earlier than praising the “nice resolve” his staff confirmed in holding off the Pelicans after Morant went out.
“Losing any person like that’s by no means straightforward,” Memphis guard Desmond Bane stated. “But we saved our composure and had been in a position to make performs down the stretch.”
The Grizzlies had been scheduled to have updates by Saturday on all injured gamers heading into Sunday night time’s sport at Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City.
Morant was in a position to gown on his personal at his locker after the sport in New Orleans. He gave the impression to be in good spirits and didn’t put on a sling. But he additionally continued to maintain his proper arm largely nonetheless and hanging by his aspect.
The 25-year-old Morant has averaged 21 factors this season — a tad under his profession common of twenty-two.4.
Earlier this season, Morant sat out eight video games due to a posterior hip subluxation and a number of Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains. The Grizzlies (22-10) went 5-3 throughout that stretch.
Morant scored 25 factors in New Orleans however had just one level within the second half earlier than his harm. Still, the Grizzlies surpassed the 130-point threshold, one night time after scoring a franchise record 155 points in a victory over Toronto.
The Grizzlies present offensive move, Bane stated, is “balanced, it is collectively, it is quick — all of these issues.”
