Report: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant out for Game 4 against Thunder

If the Memphis Grizzlies want to erase their current 3-0 deficit, they’ll have to start without their star guard.

Ja Morant will not play in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday due to a hip injury, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday.

Interim coach Tuomas Iisalo declined to confirm Charania’s report when he met with reporters.

He also didn’t provide any information regarding tests or evaluation on Morant.

“They’re still examining him,” Iisalo said when asked about the guard’s status, adding that Morant did not practice Friday.

Asked about the type of tests or evaluation conducted on Morant, Iisalo replied: “I don’t know. I’m not a medical person.”

Morant, 25, went down hard with just over three minutes remaining in the half and was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second half after not joining the team at the start of the third quarter. Luke Kennard started the second half in his place.

Without Morant in the lineup, the Thunder stormed back from a 29-point deficit and beat the Grizzlies 114-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

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The incident occurred with Memphis was on a fast break after a Thunder turnover. Scotty Pippen was driving to the basket when he dropped the ball off to Morant at the rim. Luguentz Dort, who was stumbling at the time, fell into Morant while he was in the air, sending the Morant crashing to the floor. After shooting the ensuing free throws, Morant went to the locker room with Memphis up 67-40.

Morant was being helped to the locker room but returned — noticeably limping — to shoot the free throws. He missed both, but the ball went out of bounds, allowing Morant to leave the game. He took his jersey off as he was helped off the floor.

The play was reviewed for a flagrant foul, but was ruled a common foul.

Morant had 15 points and five assists when he left the game.

He missed 32 games during the regular season with various ailments and injuries, including four games with right shoulder soreness and five more with left hamstring soreness.

Morant missed the final three games of the Grizzlies’ 2022 series with the Golden State Warriors after injuring his knee in Game 3 of the conference semifinals.

Much like Iisalo, Memphis guard Desmond Bane said he was unaware of Morant’s status for Game 4.

“I haven’t heard anything about Ja missing the game,” Bane said.

He added that limiting turnovers and maintaining control of the ball would be key to the Grizzlies capturing a win in the best-of-seven series.

–with files from The Associated Press

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