The Memphis Grizzlies may be without their star guard Ja Morant for a do-or-die Game 4 against the Thunder, after he suffered a left hip contusion on a frightening fall in Game 3.
The Memphis Grizzlies held a commanding 29-point lead in the third quarter but ultimately fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, 108-114. The loss puts them on the brink of elimination, now being down 0-3 in the series.
Making matters worse, the challenge of extending the series back to OKC has become even steeper after star guard Ja Morant suffered a concerning hip injury following a nasty fall during the game.
Morant was undercut by the Thunder’s Lu Dort while attempting a dunk in the second quarter, leading to a hard landing.
Morant logged just 15 minutes before heading to the locker room and did not return.
He was later diagnosed with a hip contusion, but the situation appears more serious—he was seen on crutches near the Memphis bench during the fourth quarter, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo provided little clarity postgame, saying that further evaluation is needed before determining Morant’s availability for Game 4.
“He’s going through further evaluations tomorrow,” Iisalo said.
Morant has already missed over 30 games this season due to various injuries. Despite the interruptions, he managed to average an impressive 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds.
Without Morant, the Grizzlies’ chances of keeping their season alive seem bleak. Game 4 tips off Saturday in Memphis.
Grizzlies woes grow with Ja Morant injury. How long will the 25-year-old be out for?
The Memphis Grizzlies season is on the brink of coming to a conclusion with star player Ja Morant expected to be sidelined with a hip injury.
It was never going to be easy for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2025 playoffs as they were pitted against top seed in the Western Conference in the shape of OKC Thunder.
The three games to date in the best-of-seven series have been one sided with the Grizzlies struggling to lay a glove on a team inspired by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who scored 31 points as part of Thursday’s win for OKC.
If Memphis are to deliver a miraculous turnaround in the series, it seems they will need to do it without key player Ja Morant after the guard was forced off during the game at the FedEx Forum on Thursday.
Morant injury
Memphis were forced to played without Morant in the second half after he suffered a hip injury late in the first half.
The 25-year-old had 15 points and five assists before the injury and was diagnosed with a left hip contusion. Without Morant, the Grizzlies were outscored 63-31 in the second half.
Morant left the game with 3:15 to go in the second quarter after falling hard on his left side while soaring in for a layup on a fastbreak. Morant was undercut by Luguentz Dort on the play and hobbled slowly to the sideline after spending several minutes on the floor being attended by the Grizzlies’ training staff.
Ja Morant took a hard foul similar to Jimmy Butler yesterday. Concern would be for
-Pelvis contusion or fracture
Will need X-Ray and possible MRI to determine pic.twitter.com/5Wt8H9ryTR
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 25, 2025
Morant returned to the court to take two free throws, which he missed, before being helped to the locker room. He will be evaluated on Friday with the results determining who long he will be away from the court.
Post game, Grizzlies teammate Scottie Pippen Jr. stated: “Morant is the head of the snake, so when you lose someone like that, it definitely alters and shifts the whole team”.
“he’s the head of the snake. so when you lose someone like that, it definitely alters and shifts the whole team”
Scotty Pippen Jr. on the impact of losing Ja Morant mid-game to an injury @MyMikeCheck pic.twitter.com/APV5075iaH
— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) April 25, 2025
The Grizzlies face OKC at home again in Game 4 on Saturday and if the formbook is to be observed, are poised to be the first team departing the playoffs against an insatiable Thunder.
