Ja Morant Speaks On Injury Status Following Lakers-Grizzlies Game

Ja Morant got injured during Sunday's game.

On Sunday afternoon, the Memphis Grizzlies hosted the Los Angeles Lakers for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.   

They lost 128-112, but the more significant concern was that All-Star point guard Ja Morant exited the game in the fourth quarter with a hand injury and did not return. 

Following the loss, Morant met with the media and spoke about his injury.   

Reporter: "How hard is this right now? Obviously, this is what you work all season for, is the playoffs and to go down with an injury you've been dealing with for the last couple weeks."

Morant: "Tough, man. Especially, you know, with everything I've been through this season. My main focus was to be out there for my guys, another incident, where you know that's pretty much in jeopardy."

Reporter: "Coach said that the X-rays were negative, so that's some good news. Any doubt in your mind you're gonna be able to play Wednesday night in Game 2?"

Morant: "Yeah."

Ja Morant explaining his hand injury tonight, how his Game 2 status is 'in jeopardy,' and how he 'feels numb' when something bad happens at this point.

"It's just one thing after another." pic.twitter.com/IN6hK2uG2n

— Clayton Collier (@ClaytonJCollier) April 17, 2023

The former Murray State star played 30 minutes and had 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 8/14 from the field.  

During the regular season, he averaged a sensational 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 46.6% from the field.   

Ja Morant said his pain level in the right hand is a 10.

When asked if he can grip anything in the hand he said, “I haven’t been using it.”

— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) April 16, 2023

Morant is by far their best player, so his status will drastically affect how the rest of the series goes. 

Ja Morant headed to the locker room with an apparent injury after this play. pic.twitter.com/MZOrSN9Tmz

— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2023

The Grizzlies finished the year with a 51-31 record and are the second seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season.

As for the Lakers, they are the seventh seed in the west and had a 43-39 record. 

Game 2 will be on Wednesday night, back in Memphis, Tennessee.