MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ja Morant, a celebrated two-time All-Star, emerged on the court despite dealing with a sprained right ankle. He made it clear that he wouldn’t let the injury sideline him during the crucial play-in game against Dallas. With a shot at the Western Conference playoffs on the line, Morant delivered a memorable performance.
Right from the start, he electrified the crowd with a spectacular one-handed slam dunk, prompting cheers from his teammate Desmond Bane, who joyfully exclaimed, “Showtime!” Morant scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half, guiding the Memphis Grizzlies to a solid 120-106 victory. This win secured them the No. 8 seed, earning a spot for Sunday’s Game 1 against the top-seeded Oklahoma City team.
“I couldn’t feel it … so I was out there,” Morant commented afterward, sharing a laugh about his determination to play.
Bane, expressing confidence in Morant, said, “I mean he’s an MVP-type player, a walking highlight reel. I was happy he was able to give it a go. I knew he was going to show up.”
Earlier in the day, Morant’s status was uncertain after he sustained the injury in a previous game against Golden State. He rolled his ankle while coming down on another player’s foot, which caused him to leave the court temporarily. However, he made a comeback in the fourth quarter, albeit limited in scoring.
Before the game, Morant took to the court late in warm-ups to assess his ankle’s condition, even having his young daughter by his side. Reports indicated he received a second treatment on his ankle just hours before the tip-off. Although he exhibited some discomfort, Morant managed to contribute significantly, pulling in nine rebounds, dishing out seven assists, and snagging three steals over 33 minutes of play.
One standout moment occurred when Morant soared high to complete a putback dunk, showcasing his incredible athleticism. Teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. could only call it “crazy,” emphasizing the significant energy boost it brought to the game.
Interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, who has been at the helm for the Grizzlies this season, acknowledged Morant’s remarkable abilities and expressed his admiration for such athletic feats. “He comes up with things that I’m not sure any other human being can do,” he said, highlighting the challenges of staying calm as a coach during such exciting moments.
Despite battling injuries that kept Morant off the court for 50 games this regular season, he has proven to be a key asset in Memphis’ postseason appearances since being the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
