Jazz vs. Grizzlies Injury Report: Ja Morant, Lauri Markkanen Update
The Utah Jazz will be back in action on Tuesday night, hoping to get the sour taste of Sunday’s defeat out of their mouths. To do so, they’ll have to beat a good but shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies team, aspiring to stop a three-game losing streak.
Here’s the latest from the injury report.
Utah Jazz:
Jordan Clarkson: Questionable (Left plantar fasciitis)
John Collins: Out (Left ankle sprain)
Lauri Markkanen: Out (Illness)
Micah Potter: Out (G-League)
Oscar Tshiebwe: Out (G-League)
Taylor Hendricks: Out for season (Right fibula fracture)
The team continues to be without Markkanen and Collins, two of its best players. It is unclear whether Collins will return from the ankle injury he suffered a handful of games ago. The forward has arguably had his best season as a pro this year with the Jazz. He’s been efficient and aggressive while bringing a steady veteran presence to the young team.
Markkanen is missing his second consecutive game with an illness. In his absence, Kyle Filipowski has been able to shine. The rookie out of Duke has been a real bright spot in a season where silver linings have been hard to find.
The Memphis Grizzlies needed a reset.
A three-day stretch away from the court couldn’t have come at a better time. The Grizzlies have lost four of their past five games, falling from the No. 2 seed to No. 5 in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
During that stretch, the Grizzlies have had several moving parts. Ja Morant is dealing with a hamstring strain, Brandon Clarke is out for the season with a knee injury
Memphis has a chance to finish its season strong in the final three weeks. That won’t be easy, considering it has the eighth-toughest schedule remaining in the NBA. Some might even say it’s unlikely.
However, the health and development of certain Grizzlies players will play a major factor in where the team finishes.
With 10 games left, the Jazz seem to have their eyes on the finish line. Hopefully they continue to see growth and production from their young core.
Memphis Grizzlies
Marvin Bagley III: Out (Concussion protocol)
Brandon Clarke: Out (Right knee sprain)
GG Jackson: Out (G-League)
Ja Morant: Out (Left hamstring strain)
Lamar Stevens: Doubtful (Right shoulder bursitis)
A lengthy injury report for Memphis including star point guard Ja Morant. It’s been a tough couple of seasons for the team in regards to keeping its best players healthy and on the court. Fortunately for Memphis, both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane will be able to suit up for the game.
Still battling for playoff seeding, tomorrow is an important game for the Grizzlies because they need all the wins that they can get. Against a young and shorthanded Jazz team, look for them to come out focused to take care of business.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm MT.
Beyond Ja Morant, here the players Memphis Grizzlies need to rise most in playoff push….
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane have been two of the team’s most consistent players. Santi Aldama also has starred in his role this season.
Three other key players likely will affect the Grizzlies’ ceiling ahead of the postseason.
Ja Morant
For Morant, it’s all about health. The star point guard eliminated many concerns about his play in recent weeks when he is available. He averaged 31.3 points and 7.7 assists in six games during March, but he has been impeded by shoulder and hamstring injuries.
But it feels like Morant has finally found his scoring rhythm, and the Grizzlies need him to showcase that same aggressiveness heading into the playoffs. His scoring and playmaking ability can mask offensive mistakes made by teammates.
Vince Williams Jr.
Vince Williams Jr. said three weeks ago that he’s about 80% of where he wants to be in regards to his health. This isn’t to say that he is still dealing with an injury. Instead, he’s gradually working his way back from a tough and severe ankle injury.
Williams hopes to be hitting his peak conditioning in the playoffs, when other players are beaten up from the regular season.
After trading Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, Memphis no longer has a long list of quality wing defenders. Rookie Jaylen Wells has been impressive, but he can’t guard all the top scorers by himself.
The Grizzlies need Williams to become the defender he was last season, when he irritated the likes of Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant.
Zach Edey
This one is self explanatory. With Clarke out, Edey has a chance to earn a larger role.
For much of this season, Edey’s role has been dependent on matchups and trends. The Grizzlies have started Edey in games and brought him off the bench in the second half, and they have made him a reserve and increased his playing time over the course of the game.
Edey’s rebounding ability has been one of his greatest strengths, but it has been a weakness overall for Memphis. Teams with agile guards have attacked his defense, which has often forced the Grizzlies to take their rookie center off the floor.
If he can stay on the floor defensively, his rebounding will win close games against the elite competition.
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