NEW ORLEANS — Ja Morant was seen cheering for his teammates from the end of the Memphis bench during their game against the Pelicans, despite having his injured right arm hanging limply at his side. The Grizzlies managed to secure a 132-124 victory on Friday night.
Morant sustained his injury when he collided with Daniel Theis, who set a hard but legal screen in the third quarter. The impact caused Morant to fall, prompting officials to initially call a foul on Theis. However, after a review, that decision was reversed.
After the incident, Morant left the court for examination in the locker room but later returned to the bench, opting not to participate in the remainder of the game. He used his left arm to encourage his teammates, celebrating as they made critical plays in the closing moments.
Following the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins stated he had “no update” regarding Morant’s injury status. This raises alarms, especially considering that a similar shoulder injury—a torn labrum—significantly affected Morant’s previous season against the same team last year.
“He definitely took a significant shot to the shoulder, but we will assess him further in the next few days,” Jenkins noted, acknowledging the team’s resilience in maintaining their performance without Morant on the floor.
Desmond Bane, a guard for the Grizzlies, expressed that losing a player like Morant is challenging, but his teammates remained composed and executed well in the final minutes. “We were able to stay focused and make the necessary plays to win,” Bane remarked.
The Grizzlies are expected to release updates on Morant and other injured players ahead of their game against Western Conference leaders, Oklahoma City, which is set for Sunday night.
Post-game, Morant was seen dressing himself at his locker and appeared to be in good spirits. He did not wear a sling, although he kept his right arm mostly stationary by his side.
At 25 years old, Morant has been averaging around 21 points per game this season, which is slightly below his career average of 24 points. Earlier this season, he was sidelined for eight games due to a posterior hip subluxation and several Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains. During his absence, the Grizzlies held a record of 5-3.
Despite Morant’s injury, he had contributed 25 points in the game against the Pelicans, although he managed only one point in the second half prior to sustaining the injury. The Grizzlies’ offense has been impressive, scoring more than 130 points, just one night after setting a franchise record with 155 points against Toronto.
Bane described the current state of the team’s offense as “balanced, cohesive, and fast.” This reflects a determined effort from the Grizzlies as they navigate the challenges of injuries throughout the season.
