NEW YORK – Grizzlies star goalie Ja Morant left the Barclays Center track in a wheelchair Monday night after tearing his left ankle in the second quarter of Memphis’ 116-111 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets.
Morant’s ankle x-rays revealed no fracture, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and an MRI is expected as soon as Tuesday.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins did not have an official update on Morant’s condition after the game, but said Morant would continue to be evaluated and there will likely be an update Tuesday from Boston, where the Grizzlies are scheduled. play the Celtics on Wednesday.
“So hard to see how Ja goes down,” Jenkins said. “I know it will recover and it will be fine. We will have more updates as we go through, but so far so good.”
The 6-foot-three guard was injured when he tried to block the shot from Nets striker Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and landed awkwardly at Luwawu-Cabarrot’s foot.
Morant didn’t gain weight on his left leg as he jumped to the side before collapsing next to the Grizzlies bench. He rolled on the ground in pain as the training staff approached him.
A few minutes later, a staff member brought a wheelchair and Morant’s companions helped him into it. Morant was immediately shot in the locker room and later ruled out the rest of the match.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Morant returned to the Grizzlies bench with a protective boot on his left leg. He limped off the team’s host during downtime and handed out five to his teammates.
“What a great display for him to be out there,” Jenkins said. “He was fully involved on the bench, in downtime. Being fully integrated with the boys, it helps propel us to this victory … A moment like this may put you to the test, but our boys kept fighting.”
After the match, Morant tweeted about the date, “every setback is a set-up for the comeback. God wants to make you come out better than you were before,” adding that he “listened to you.”
“every setback is a setup for the return. God wants to make you come out better than you were before.”
has heard you 🙏🏽🖤– Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 29, 2020
The rookie of the year, who has been the current one, has started impressively through the Grizzlies ’first two games, averaging 36 points and 8 assists.