BREAKING: Ja Morant's Final Injury Status For Lakers-Grizzlies Game 2

Ja Morant has been ruled out for Game 2.

On Wednesday evening, the Memphis Grizzlies are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in Tennessee for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. 

However, they will be without their best player, as All-Star point guard Ja Morant has been ruled out due to a hand injury. 

Via Grizzlies PR: "@memgrizz status update: 

Ja Morant (RT Hand Soreness) is inactive tonight vs @Lakers."

.@memgrizz status update:

Ja Morant (RT Hand Soreness) is inactive tonight vs @Lakers. https://t.co/InutSp47tG

— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) April 19, 2023

The former Murray State star played 30 minutes in Game 1 and put up 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.  

However, he exited in the fourth quarter and did not return. 

The Grizzlies lost the game 128-112, so they will need a victory to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole. 

Games 3 and 4 will be played on the road in Los Angeles, so they could find themselves in serious jeopardy of losing the series. 

Playing without their best player on Wednesday night will be tough because Morant averaged a sensational 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest on 46.6% shooting during the regular season. 

The Grizzlies finished the season 51-31, which got them the second seed in the Western Conference for the second straight season. 

As for the Lakers, they had a tough start to the year but turned themselves around and finished 43-39, which has them as the seventh seed (they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in tournament). 

Last year, they went 33-49 and missed the playoffs, but they have the talent to compete for the 2023 NBA Championship.