The Memphis Grizzlies’ Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder took a sad turn in the first half as Ja Morant exited the game with a possible injury.
What Happened to Ja Morant vs. the OKC Thunder?
With 3:15 minutes left until halftime, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Morant were on a fast break to secure a quick bucket. Pippen, who almost made it, passed to Morant in the last second.
Oh my god bro… Ja Morant down on the court in pain after being undercut by Lu Dort.
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 💔 (@GoIdenState)
But the odds weren’t in Morant’s favor, who crashed into Thunder’s Luguentz Dort attempting to undercut and stop his dunk attempt. Morant fell to the floor in pain, clearly injured.
Memphis was up 67-40.
Morant missed both his free throws and was quickly helped to the locker room.
Though reviewed as flagrant, the foul against Dort was considered a common foul.
Status alert: Ja Morant (hip) won't return Thursday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA)
Shortly after the exit, reports confirmed Morant was out of the game with a hip injury. Shams Charania has provided a recent update into Morant’s injury. It is now confirmed that he will be missing the Grizzlies’ Game 4 clash vs. OKC Thunder, with the same hip injury.
Grizzlies Fans Send Morant to the Locker Room With a Standing Ovation
While Morant seemed visibly frustrated as he hobbled off the court, the Memphis crowd made sure to show him some respect.
Morant received a standing ovation as he exited, clearly a favorite for his crowd, who were rightfully worried after the injury.
Ja Morant received a standing ovation after taking a hard fall and coming back to shoot free throws before heading to the locker room in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/RvToQQ7fGs
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)
Fans expressed their disappointment on social media, many sending out prayers and hoping for a speedy recovery.
While the Grizzlies have continued to fight for their postseason spot, Morant is the center point of their success.
Before his injury, Morant was playing with his best foot forward — as he has this entire 2024-25 season.
The young Grizzlies star scored 15 points in 16 minutes of play, five assists, and one rebound. Not only did he rack up points for the team, but he also set up plays for those like Pippen.
Morant’s Injury History During the 2024–25 Campaign
Despite leading his team to a play-in and then the Round 1 against No. 1-seeded Thunder, Morant’s time during the regular season was injury-prone.
He was limited to 50 games before the playoffs, injuries playing a part in his reduced gametime. In fact, if Morant was 100% healthy, the team could have avoided a play-in spot if consistent.
Morant suffered a posterior hip subluxation and associated pelvic muscle strains after a bad fall vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on November 6. Similar to his Game 3 exit, it was a collision in the air that resulted in a painful fall.
The Grizzlies won that game 131-114, with Morant missing the next eight games.
READ: Lu Dort Makes Emotional Confession About Ja Morant After Grizzlies Star’s Scary Hip Injury
As Morant faces another hip injury, there remains concern about his recovery and the possibility of missed time. Crucial to keeping his team afloat, the Grizzlies need Morant to maintain any playoff hopes.
Game 4 is scheduled on Saturday, April 26 at the FedExForum in Memphis.
