Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant seemingly out Sport 4, coach Taylor Jenkins says

SAN FRANCISCO — Memphis Grizzlies star level guard Ja Morant is more likely to miss Sport 4 on Monday with a knee damage, head coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned on Sunday.

“He is obtained additional analysis happening,” Jenkins mentioned on Sunday. “However from what I’ve been instructed, there may be most likely a extremely good likelihood he would not play tomorrow.”

The Grizzlies didn’t instantly element the precise nature of Morant’s knee damage. However the Grizzlies imagine it was attributable to a play by which Jordan Poole grabbed Morant’s knee whereas going for a basketball on a entice close to half court docket within the fourth quarter of Sport 3.

The NBA is not going to take any disciplinary motion on Poole, a supply instructed ESPN. Jenkins mentioned Memphis government vice chairman of basketball operations/common supervisor Zach Kleiman had been in contact with the league regarding the play.

“Simply attempting to be matter-of-fact right here,” Jenkins mentioned when requested about what he thought in regards to the play after additional evaluate. “That is what Ja says, that is what our medical workforce has mentioned after reviewing the play. Ja was taking part in nice, feeling nice all sport, and the seize of the knee is what triggered the potential damage and why we took Ja out of the sport.

“Nothing has modified from there when it comes to that was the play that triggered this.”

Morant left Chase Middle on Saturday night time with out speaking to reporters. However he initially tweeted “broke the code,” with video of Poole grabbing Morant’s knee on the fourth-quarter play, earlier than later deleting the tweet.

Morant might be seen strolling with a limp towards the workforce bus following Memphis’ 142-112 loss.

Poole mentioned he was not attempting to deliberately harm Morant. He and Andrew Wiggins trapped Morant close to half court docket earlier than Wiggins was referred to as for a foul with 6:55 left within the sport. Morant subbed out with 6:19 left and the Warriors up by 17 earlier than strolling again to the locker room with a limp.

“It was a basketball play once we doubled him,” Poole mentioned on Saturday. “And I hit the ball, and I used to be going for the ball. I imply, clearly, you do not need to see anyone get harm. I am not even that kind of participant. I respect everyone.”

The Grizzlies went 20-5 this season with out Morant, who missed 9 straight video games in March and April due to proper knee soreness in the course of the common season.

“Ja’s spirits are good,” mentioned level guard Tyus Jones, who will begin if Morant is unable to play. “Clearly he is annoyed. Anytime you might be harm or banged up, you are annoyed. [But] his spirits are good. He nonetheless clearly placing every thing into therapeutic up and attempting to get higher and attempting to be on the market with us attempting compete and battle.”

Jones added that whereas he thought the play in query involving Poole was “an fascinating play,” he mentioned he didn’t assume anybody was attempting to harm anybody on the ground.

“I do not assume Poole or anyone on this collection for that matter is essentially a unclean participant,” Jones mentioned. “But it surely was simply an fascinating play. That’s all I can actually say on that. It was not a standard play that usually occurs however I do not assume he was attempting to injure 12 by any means.”

The Grizzlies could have Dillon Brooks again for Sport 4 after the wing served a one-game suspension in Sport 3 for his flagrant foul 2 within the opening minutes of Sport 2 that resulted in Gary Payton II struggling a fractured elbow. An irate Steve Kerr mentioned Brooks “broke the code” for that flagrant foul, by which he hit Payton within the head whereas the Warriors level guard was within the air going up for a transition layup.

Now the Grizzlies, down 2-1, might be with out their star level guard in Sport 4.

“When he was on the court docket, you noticed how dominant he was and the way a lot we relied on him,” energy ahead Xavier Tillman mentioned. “So when he isn’t on the court docket, it’s now to indicate him like, ‘we obtained you.’ Clearly it is an unlucky state of affairs to occur, however now we obtained your again, we’re going to maintain it down till you might be able to go.”