Ja Morant’s Game 2 Status ‘in Jeopardy’ After Gnarly Hand Injury in Playoff Loss

The star point guard exited Game 1 against the Lakers in the fourth quarter.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant sustained a hand injury in the fourth quarter of his team’s 128–112 Game 1 loss to the Lakers. 

Now, his status for Game 2 could be up in the air.

Speaking to reporters after Memphis’ loss on Monday, Morant indicated that his availability for Game 2 is “in jeopardy,” according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon. Morant revealed that he’s dealing with considerable pain, to the extent that he’s not even able to “undo a balled-up pair of socks.”

“Feels like it’s one thing after another,” Morant said.

During the fourth quarter, Morant could be seen attacking the basket against Anthony Davis. The 23-year-old landed awkwardly on his hand and stayed on the ground in pain. He was then escorted into the Grizzlies’ locker room and did not return to the game, though he was seen on the bench towards the end of the quarter.

Ja Morant says his status for Game 2 is “in jeopardy.” He was downtrodden and not even able to use his right hand to undo a balled-up pair of socks. “Feels like it’s one thing after another.”

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 16, 2023

After Memphis’ loss, head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters that X-rays on Morant’s hand and wrist came back negative. The Grizzlies’ current plan is to evaluate their star point guard over the course of the next two days.

“He’s in some pain,” Jenkins said of Morant, via Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. 

Taylor Jenkins on Ja Morant: “He’s in some pain.”

He added that x-rays were negative. They’ll evaluate him over the next two days.

— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) April 16, 2023

Prior to his exit from Sunday’s loss, the Grizzlies’ guard scored 18 points, adding six rebounds, two assists and two steals, as well as six turnovers. He went down with the injury with just under six minutes left in the game.

According to MacMahon, Morant was already dealing with an injury to the same hand prior to Sunday’s incident.

The Grizzlies will look to get back on track in Game 2 on Wednesday, but they may be without their star point guard following his concerning injury update.