The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Saturday that two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant has injured his right hip, and he will be out on a week-to-week basis.
Morant was seen using crutches Friday night after the Grizzlies’ win over the Washington Wizards. Initially, it was reported that he had hurt his right hamstring during Wednesday’s win against the Lakers.
However, further testing revealed that Morant actually suffered a severe right hip flexion. He was bumped in mid-air by a Lakers player while trying to catch a lob pass in the third quarter. The injury includes a partial posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) and several Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains.
The Grizzlies said they will provide updates “as appropriate.”
The team traveled to Portland on Saturday for a game against the Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Before Friday’s game, coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned that after more testing, Morant felt the injury mostly in his hip. He had additional testing done on Friday, and another consultation was planned for Saturday.
Morant started last season with a 25-game suspension from the NBA for off-court issues. He returned to play only nine games before suffering a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.
This season, he had been averaging 20.6 points in his first eight games. The Grizzlies are currently 6-4 and were in sixth place in the Western Conference standings as of Saturday, after missing the playoffs last season.
Memphis is also without two other starters, Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane. Smart has a sprained right ankle, and Bane has a right oblique strain. Both injuries occurred in the same game, and both players are listed as week-to-week since Nov. 1.
