Ja Morant has a bone bruise in his right knee. This injury will keep him out of Game 5 and possibly the rest of the postseason. This is a big blow to the Grizzlies, but they have shown they can win without him in the past. In the meantime, here are some other big injuries to watch for this postseason. The injury to Ja Morant is a blow to the Grizzlies, but they can survive without him, too.
Tyus Jones
Ja Morant has been on fire this season, averaging 28.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. However, he is out of the lineup against the Wizards, likely due to a minor ankle injury. In his absence, the Grizzlies will turn to Tyus Jones, who has played well in previous spot starts. His salary is $4,500 on FanDuel, and he is projected to score 34.3 fantasy points against the Wizards.
While Jones is a valuable backup, his fantasy value has been limited this season. In nine-cat leagues, Jones ranks outside the top 200. That being said, he is a plus player with a great eye for scoring opportunities.
Kyle Anderson
After Kyle Anderson and Ja Morant were traded last season, the Grizzlies were left with a large hole in the middle. While Anderson averaged just 7.6 points per game last season, he was a valuable piece on the Grizzlies’ playoff run. While he’ll be missed by the Grizzlies, he may become a rotational player for the Timberwolves this season.
With the injuries that he has sustained this season, Anderson’s role with the Grizzlies has shrunk dramatically. He was limited to 69 games this season, reducing his minutes from 30.4 to 21.5 per game and his points per game from 12.4 to 7.6. However, his on-court plus/minus rating went up from -2.0 to +3. During the season, Anderson also transitioned to playing small-ball big for the Grizzlies, playing 62% at power forward and 30% at center.
Memphis Grizzlies
During the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant limped off the court with a knee injury. It is unclear whether the injury was intentional or not. The Grizzlies’ general manager Zach Kleiman and coach Rick Pitino are working together to determine Morant’s status.
After an MRI, it was discovered that Memphis point guard Ja Morant suffered a bone bruise on his right knee. Morant is likely to miss the rest of the postseason, but the Grizzlies remain hopeful about his full recovery. The 23-year-old had averaged 38 points per game in the series until his injury. The Grizzlies trail the Golden State Warriors 3-1, and Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Memphis.