Grizzlies guard Ja Morant averaged 38 points (on 62% true shooting), eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals per game against the Warriors.
Unfortunately, that spectacular series has been cut short.
After Morant missed Memphis’ Game 4 loss last night, the Grizzlies have acknowledged Morant will likely miss the rest of the playoffs with a knee injury.
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Without Morant, the rest of Memphis’ postseason will likely be only another game or two. Down 3-1 in their second-round series, the Grizzlies host the Warriors in Game 5 tomorrow. Game 6 would be Friday in San Francisco.
This will reignite discussion of whether Golden State guard Jordan Poole made a dirty play in grabbing Morant’s knee. The NBA didn’t punish Poole. Most reasonable observers aren’t holding the contact against Poole.
But it is a bummer the NBA’s most exciting player is hurt.
Memphis went 20-5 without Morant in the regular season. This team is deep and mentally tough. But winning three straight against the Warriors is almost certainly asking too much.
The young Grizzlies — especially Morant — showed awesome potential in the playoffs. Assuming this is the end of their line, pressure is on management to position Memphis for even greater success in the coming years.
More on the Grizzlies
Kings for a day: Warriors play drearily, but top Grizzlies Game 4 Morant out with sore knee; Kerr tests positive for COVID, will not coach… It’s official: Suns’ Monty Williams named NBA Coach of the Year
Grizzlies: Ja Morant likely to miss rest of playoffs with knee injury originally appeared on NBCSports.com