Grizzlies Provide Update on Ja Morant After Two Missed Games. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has been sidelined for the past two games due to a shoulder injury, with the team splitting those matchups 1-1. His next chance to return was set for Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Grizzlies hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference at 43-26 but are just one game behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 2 spot. After missing the playoffs last season, Memphis is back in the championship conversation, making Morant’s health a key factor in their postseason push.
On Tuesday, the team announced that Morant will remain out for Wednesday’s game against Portland. However, instead of his shoulder, the official injury report lists left hamstring soreness as the reason for his absence. This marks the 12th game he has missed this season, including four in March.
Despite Memphis being a top-10 team on both offense and defense, Morant’s presence is vital to maximizing their potential. The Grizzlies will hope for his quick return as they gear up for the playoffs.
Grizzlies Struggling to Find Their Identity as Playoffs Approach
The Memphis Grizzlies have had plenty of wake-up calls lately, but the team has yet to fully respond. Their latest setback—a 128-108 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers—adds to head coach Taylor Jenkins’ concerns with the postseason fast approaching. Missing Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke due to injuries, the Grizzlies not only lost the game but also took a hit to their pride. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team with 23 points but had little impact on the boards, while Desmond Bane managed just 10 points on seven shots and committed two turnovers.
Jenkins acknowledged that Memphis hasn’t been playing up to the tough, high-energy standard set during the Grit-and-Grind Era. Since the All-Star break, the team’s intensity and speed have faded—two key traits they need to regain before the regular season ends.
“I told the guys there are 48 minutes in a game, and we have to keep digging deep,” Jenkins said. “We need to focus on our speed, urgency, and intensity—that’s what has defined us all season. We have to get back to playing with defensive energy and fast-paced execution, which we’ve lost over the last month or so, even before the All-Star break. We need to regain that in these final 10 or 11 games.”
With injuries forcing lineup adjustments, Jenkins is urging his players to stay focused and avoid overthinking on the court. Instead of dwelling on the loss to Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers, the emphasis is on reinforcing their playing style and mentality before the postseason begins.
