During Game 3 of their playoff matchup, the Memphis Grizzlies dealt with an intimidating first round opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their star player Ja Morant was plagued by a hip injury, which hurt the team’s overall play. After Morant exited the game for good late in the second quarter, the Grizzlies were unable to withstand the momentum swing despite an encouraging start. The nature of the incident led to much speculation about Morant’s future for the rest of the postseason.
Morant set the tone early, finishing with 15 points and five assists in only 15 minutes of action. He scored during that 25-5 run. During this run, he scored an incredible 16 straight points, driving Memphis’ advantage up to 28 just over halfway through the second quarter. His momentum was cut short when he fell hard on his left side after being undercut by Luguentz Dort with just 3:14 remaining in the half.
Injury and Its Impact
After the hard fall, Morant was able to return to the court for two free throws, which he missed both. He was subsequently helped off the court and taken to the locker room for further evaluation. His absence was felt, as the Grizzlies were outscored 63-31 in the entire second half, going on to lose the game.
Interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo did not mince words in voicing his displeasure in the aftermath. He said Morant will be evaluated on Friday to see how bad the injury is. He gave credit to the team’s courageous battle for the entirety of the game. They had a hard time running their plays without Morant.
“We did a great job fighting for 48 minutes, but against this team it’s not enough to fight, you also have to be able to execute.” – Tuomas Iisalo
Even with Morant’s absence in the second half, Memphis couldn’t find its offensive flow. Scotty Pippen Jr. stepped up to lead the team with 28 points, but the Grizzlies could not compensate for Morant’s crucial contributions.
First Half Performance
He would have a relatively quiet first half before his injury. He averaged a mind-boggling 35.5 points in those first two playoff games. He looked kind of lost at times during this head-to-head. His performance left many wondering if the 4-time MVP could still be the dominant force he has always been.
Combined with a defensive failure by the Grizzlies that saw them allow the Thunder to shoot nearly 80% in transition, it made for the perfect storm. The Thunder used this moment to take back control of the game and close it out in impressive fashion.
“We were very out of character in the first half, and some of that had to do with how well Memphis played and the way they landed the first punch and multiple punches after that. So credit to them.” – Source not specified
Midway through the second half and Memphis distractedly had other issues. They were lost in the wake of losing Morant’s fierce and unique brand of on-court leadership.
Looking Ahead
Now the Grizzlies must worry about Morant’s health as they head into their next round of games. The evaluation on Friday will decide whether he’ll be able to play in any more games in the ALCS. It’s time for the team to regroup. They need the luck and they need to plan wise, none more so than as Morant is key to their offensive game plan.
Coach Iisalo focused on the effort they gave in such a hard-fought game. To play with fire enough to win the next big game, they’ll need better execution. They’ll need to get more creative to adjust their game plan without Morant’s scoring threat, though.
Mark Daigneault, the head coach of the Thunder, noted that his team had a difficult time in the beginning. Then, boy, did they start clicking in the second half.
“We kind of reconnected to who we are (in the second half).” – Mark Daigneault
Regardless of how this game turns out, players’ health will play a huge role in determining postseason success. Crucial matches are just down the road. Both teams will be desperate to establish themselves and take any chance that comes their way as they take their next steps into the postseason.
