The Los Angeles Lakers have taken early control of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 128-112 Game 1 win on Sunday, and the matchup may get easier for them.
Ja Morant, the explosive and exciting face of the Grizzlies franchise, suffered a painful hand injury in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. The injury occurred when the All-Star guard ran over Anthony Davis and was called for a charging foul with 5:48 remaining in the contest.
Buy Lakers TicketsMorant said after the game that his status for Game 2 on Wednesday was in jeopardy, and there is now significant doubt he will be able to suit up for that contest, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (h/t Lakers Daily).
There’s ‘significant doubt’ that Ja Morant will be able to play in Game 2, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/fiqG3S8rZR
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 17, 2023
Needless to say, the Lakers would be spotted a huge advantage if Morant is unable to go.
However, it should be pointed out that after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 4 of last year’s Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, Memphis won Game 5 before getting eliminated in Game 6.
