When Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is forced to leave a game with another injury—often a consequence of his high-flying athleticism—other aspects of the victory can be overshadowed.
Morant suffered a right hamstring injury during the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ 131-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. He was hurt attempting a left-handed dunk and landing awkwardly. Morant exited the game with 3:27 remaining in the quarter, heading to the locker room and not returning to play. His status for Friday’s game against the visiting Washington Wizards remains uncertain.
Before his departure, Morant scored 20 points, but Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Jaylen Wells each matched his team-leading total, helping secure the win over the Anthony Davis-less Lakers. Jackson was particularly unstoppable with aggressive drives to the rim, while Wells, an early-season standout, continued to demonstrate his ability to play significant minutes.
In the closing minutes of the first quarter against the Lakers, Jackson made a couple of his trademark half-hook shots and drained a 3-pointer to give the Grizzlies a 10-point lead. Wells has filled in capably as a starter while Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart recover from injuries. His 20 points were a career high, and his 28 minutes on the court were consistent with his recent play. He led the team in minutes played in a Nov. 2 win at Philadelphia (36 minutes) and a Nov. 4 loss at Brooklyn (33 minutes).
The Wizards are also benefiting from a breakout performance by first-year player Kyshawn George. One of the youngest teams in the NBA, Washington saw George score 20 points with six rebounds and four assists in Monday’s 125-112 home loss to Golden State. He played a season-high 38 minutes after struggling early, missing his first six shots before recovering.
Averaging 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, George is set to make his fourth consecutive start, having moved into the lineup when Kyle Kuzma suffered a right groin strain in the fourth quarter of the team’s Oct. 28 game against Atlanta.
