Will Ja Morant play tonight in the Play-in game against the Mavs? Latest ankle injury update
Memphis fans are sweating on the fitness of their star player Ja Morant, who will likely need a late test if he wants to play.
A decision on Ja Morant’s fitness will not be made until a few hours before the upcoming NBA Play-in game against the Dallas Mavericks, reporters were told.
The Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) player missed out on Thursday’s practice session with the rest of his teammates as he recovers from a right ankle issue; Morant was forced off early in Tuesday’s 121-116 loss to the Warriors after stepping on Buddy Hield’s foot with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.
‘It’s a legitimate game-time decision’
Finishing the game with 22 points, Morant was able to complete the play before limping off and receiving treatment. “My feel with him is he’ll do absolutely everything in order to play,” Memphis interim coach Tuomas Iisalo admitted on Thursday. “If he’s physically able to do it, he will do it. It’s a legitimate game-time decision.”
Ja Morant celebration 🔥🔥🔥
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 11, 2025
(h/t @EricTweetsNBA) pic.twitter.com/FuOZRaNe79
‘If he feels he’s good to go, we have full trust in him’
“If he feels he’s good to go, we have full trust in him,” the coach added. “He’s also a very good judge of how and if he’s ready to go or not. I’m leaning on the experts in this situation, which clearly I’m not in the medical department.”
A pivotal player for his team, Morant has averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game across 50 fixtures in the 2024-25 season.
As for the game itself, the winners will earn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference play-offs and will go up against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round; for the losers, the season will be over.
"POETRY IN MOTION."
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2025
Ja Morant's 2024-25 season was a work of art!
🎨 Buzzer-beaters
🎨 360s
🎨 High-flying slams
Look back at some of @JaMorant's best plays from a thrilling campaign ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/IhwnvnjA2F
In the other play-in game on April 18, the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks will go to battle in Georgia for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-offs.
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