The status of Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was up in the air during Thursday’s big game against the Golden State Warriors. The point guard was previously questionable for this game, but has been upgraded to available ahead of the game.
According to the Grizzlies’ injury report, he has lower back pain. Morant has been dealing with the condition since December 8, after initially injuring his hip on November 7. He played in Sunday’s 116-110 loss to the LA Lakers.
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If Morant drops out, Scotty Pippen Jr. replace him in the starting line-up. However, his absence would be a major blow to the Grizzlies. Morant has been in great form lately, averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists in December and multiple 30-point games.
Ja Morant Stats vs. Golden State Warriors
Ja Morant has played 11 games against the Golden State Warriors, averaging 22.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 7.4 apg, shooting on 43/25/75 splits. He has won just five times, which means a losing record against the Grizzlies’ conference rivals.
If Morant is upgraded to available, it will be his first game against the Warriors in almost two years. He last played them on January 25, 2023, tallying 29 points, four rebounds and 12 assists on 50.0% shooting in a 122–120 loss.
The Grizzlies enter this game on a 10-2 run, but are coming off a 116-110 loss to the Lakers. They hope to bounce back against the struggling Warriors, who have lost eight of their last 10.
However, that depends heavily on the fitness of Ja Morant and would require a huge effort from others in his absence as the Warriors enter this match relatively healthy.
Where to watch the Golden State Warriors vs. Want to watch the Memphis Grizzlies?
The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies will headline the NBA League Pass slate on Thursday. Meanwhile, NBC Sports Bay Area and FanDuel Sports Network – Southeast will provide coverage of the game in local regions beginning at 8:00 PM ET. The Grizzlies enter this matchup as -2.5-point favorites with a moneyline of -135.
Edited by Arhaan Raje