Grizzlies guard Ja Morant hopped off the floor on his right foot before collapsing on the ground behind the basket on Monday after landing awkwardly on a shot contest. It took a wheelchair to get him to the locker room for further evaluation.
It appeared to be a lower left leg injury for the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, who had been playing phenomenal basketball before the incident. The initial diagnosis from Memphis is an ankle sprain.
Morant will not return to the floor on Monday against the Nets, according to the team.
UPDATE: Morant emerged from the locker room in a boot during the second half.
UPDATE: X-Rays on Morant’s left ankle showed there was no fracture to the bone.
Ja Morant has returned to the Grizzlies bench and is wearing a boot on his left foot.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 29, 2020
X-Rays on Memphis guard Ja Morant’s left ankle reveal no fracture, sources tell ESPN. Team will await results of an MRI as soon as Tuesday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 29, 2020
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The Grizzlies are also without young forward Jaren Jackson Jr. because of lingering pain from a torn meniscus. Morant and Jackson are among the NBA’s most promising tandems.
Morant put up 44 points in his season debut and 28 this past Saturday.