MEMPHIS, Tenn. ( Associated Press) — Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is in doubt for the rest of the NBA playoffs after an MRI and reevaluation revealed he has a bruise on the right knee bone.
The Grizzlies are confident their star will make a full recovery.
Morant, named Most Improved Player, is averaging 38.3 points per game in the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State. But he missed Game 4, a 101-98 loss on Monday.
Originally, the team reported that the reason was a knee injury.
The Grizzlies are down 3-1 in the series. Game 5 is Wednesday at Memphis.
Morant reinjured his knee on a play with the Warriors’ Jordan Poole in Game 3, a 142-112 setback.
He limped off with 6:19 remaining after Poole grabbed his knee on a play the Warriors point guard said occurred when he was trying to take the ball from him.
Morant later posted a later-deleted video on Twitter showing the play and the phrase, “He broke the code,” a reference to Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s comment five days earlier when Gary Payton II was left behind. injured due to a hard foul by Dillon Brooks in the second game.
Kerr missed Game 4 after testing positive for COVID-19 and entering health protocols. He was still at his house Tuesday and did not travel to Memphis with the team. Associate coach Mike Brown will coach Game 5.
Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said via text message Tuesday that the Warriors have no further cases of COVID-19.
