The Memphis Grizzlies won’t know until close to tipoff whether or not star point guard Ja Morant can play when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night in a pivotal Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Morant reinjured his right hand during Sunday’s 128-112 setback to the Lakers and was in a great deal of pain afterward. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Tuesday that Morant is a game-time decision but the club listed the All-Star point guard as questionable hours later.
Jenkins said X-rays displayed there were no fractures or ligament tears in Morant’s right hand.
Morant departed with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter on Sunday shortly before the Grizzlies fell apart. The Lakers concluded the game with a decisive 15-0 run to take the upper hand in the best-of-seven series.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Tuesday that the uncertainty of Morant’s status won’t hinder his club’s preparations.
The biggest adjustment for Memphis is that Tyus Jones would move into the starting lineup. Jones had a stellar nine-game run in March when Morant missed eight games due to a suspension and sat out a ninth because of conditioning reasons.
Memphis went 6-3 during the stretch and Jones averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 assists and just 1.3 turnovers. He had 10 or more assists on five occasions and produced the first triple-double of his career.
The seventh-seeded Lakers are aiming to open up a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with Games 3 and 4 to follow in Los Angeles.
It’s not a situation the second-seeded Grizzlies were anticipating, but it can be avoided by evening the series on Wednesday.
Four Lakers scored 20 or more points in the opener with the most surprising output coming from Rui Hachimura, who had 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting.
Bane admitted the Grizzlies wanted Hachimura to take a lot of shots.
Austin Reaves also made a big contribution for the Lakers with 23 points. Anthony Davis added 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots and LeBron James had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Reaves was dynamic in the fourth quarter with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting. He scored nine straight Los Angeles points late in the period.
James and Davis are still dealing with right foot injuries. Both are listed as probable.
Jaren Jackson Jr., who was named NBA Defensive of the Player on Monday, poured in 31 points in Game 1 for the Grizzlies. Bane added 22.
