The NBA world was shocked to hear that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will miss Game 2 of the Grizzlies vs Lakers series due to an ankle injury. Morant, who was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has been a key contributor for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 17.6 points and 7 assists per game.
Morant suffered the injury during Game 1 of the series, when he rolled his ankle after a drive to the basket. He was able to finish the game, but an MRI taken the following day revealed that he had a Grade 2 ankle sprain. This type of sprain is considered to be a moderate injury and typically requires at least two weeks of rest and rehabilitation before a player can return to action.
The loss of Morant is a major blow for the Grizzlies, who are already without star center Jonas Valanciunas due to a foot injury. Without Morant, the Grizzlies will have to rely on veteran guards Tyus Jones and De’Anthony Melton to handle the ball-handling duties. It will also be up to forwards Kyle Anderson and Dillon Brooks to provide scoring punch in Morant’s absence.
The Lakers will also be without a key player for Game 2, as forward Anthony Davis is out with a calf strain. This could potentially give the Grizzlies an opportunity to steal a game in Los Angeles and even up the series. However, it will be a tall task without their star point guard.
Morant’s injury is a tough break for both him and the Grizzlies, but they will have to find a way to adjust without him. It remains to be seen how long he will be out, but it is likely that he will miss at least one more game in the series. The Grizzlies will have to find a way to make up for his absence if they want to have any chance of advancing past the Lakers.
