Is Ja Morant Playing in Game 2? Latest Update on Hand Injury vs Lakers

Is Ja Morant Playing in Game 2? Latest Update on Hand Injury vs Lakers

Updated:

One of the biggest stories from the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs was Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffering a hand injury in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Morant was forced to leave the contest after a collision with Anthony Davis, and initial reactions did not paint an optimistic picture.

Now fans are anxious for an update, especially after Memphis dropped the series opener. Here's the latest on the situation.

Ja Morant Game 2 Injury Update

The good news on Morant is that X-rays came back negative on his hand. However, it appears the All-Star guard could be a long shot to play on Wednesday. He told reporters his Game 2 status is "in jeopardy" and was downtrodden following Sunday's contest.

This news is sure to send Grizzlies fans into a panic. Morant was already nursing some soreness in his right hand to end the regular season, though it didn't jeopardize his Game 1 availability in any way. Now he's hurt the area again and more severely, putting his status in doubt.

Morant recorded 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists across 30 minutes of action in Game 1. Without the guard on the floor, however, L.A. went on to outscore Memphis by double digits in the fourth quarter and captured a 16-point victory.

Now the 2-seed Grizzlies suddenly have their backs up against the wall early in this series. If Taylor Jenkins' squad falls on Wednesday, they'll then head on the road facing a 2-0 deficit and with Morant still potentially out.

Sixth man Tyus Jones would suddenly be thrust into huge role if Morant sits in Game 2. Jones posted 9 points and 3 assists in 25 minutes to begin the series.

Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.