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Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant has been listed as questionable for Game 3 towards the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, as he continues to heal from a hand damage he sustained within the first sport of this sequence. The All-Star guard was a full participant in apply on Friday, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, although it was a non-contact apply the place he labored on capturing and dribbling.
Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins stated that catching the ball is one thing that Morant will nonetheless should “navigate,” however that his hand seems to be so much higher than it did two days in the past.
Morant missed Game 2 because of the hand damage, however the Grizzlies managed to tug out a 103-93 win with out him towards the Lakers to even up the sequence at one sport apiece. The damage occurred in Game 1 of this first-round sequence, the place Morant landed awkwardly on his outstretched proper hand after trying a dunk and colliding midair with Lakers massive man Anthony Davis. Clearly in ache, Morant instantly subbed out of the sport and headed again to the locker room.
X-rays of Morant’s hand got here again adverse after Game 1, and it was later introduced that he suffered a mushy tissue bruise. He could possibly be seen throughout Game 2 on the bench carrying what seemed to be a glove to guard his hand.
Morant’s well being is clearly of supreme significance for Memphis transferring ahead. The Grizzlies are already with out key contributors Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke for everything of their playoff run, and so they merely cannot afford to lose anybody else for an prolonged interval, particularly their All-Star level guard. With Morant listed as questionable the day earlier than the sport, it leaves some hope that he’ll be capable to give it a go for Game 3, however there’s all the time the danger of worsening the damage if he returns too quickly. This is a difficult state of affairs for Memphis to be in, and though it’s the postseason they’re going to possible need to be cautious with their franchise centerpiece.
