Ja Morant a Game-Time Decision for Grizzlies Ahead of Play-In Showdown vs. Mavericks
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for their final shot at the postseason, all eyes are on Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star did not practice on Thursday. It will be a game-time decision for Friday night’s play-in game at FedExForum, with the winner earning the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.
Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo emphasized that while Morant is pushing to play, his availability remains uncertain ahead of Friday’s tipoff (8:30 p.m. CT).
“My feel with him is he’ll do absolutely everything in order to play,” Iisalo said. “If he’s physically able to do it, he will do it. It’s a legitimate gametime decision.”
Morant injured his right ankle with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter of Tuesday’s 121-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The injury occurred when he landed on the foot of Warriors guard Buddy Hield after releasing a floater. Officials reviewed the play for a possible flagrant foul but ruled no hostile act had occurred.
Morant returned to the game with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter and played the rest of the way, but he was clearly limited. He avoided landing on his right ankle, lacked his usual explosiveness, and attempted his final shot with 3:44 remaining. In the most crucial moment of the game, he struggled to break free for an inbound pass on the final possession, resulting in a five-second violation.
“If he feels he’s good to go, we have full trust in him,” Iisalo said. “He’s also a very good judge of how and if he’s ready to go or not. I’m leaning on the experts in this situation, which clearly I’m not in the medical department.”
Following the game, Morant insisted he plans to play.
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“I’m playing. That’s basically the answer I’m giving,” Morant said. “It ain’t nothing different.”
Morant played 50 games during the regular season and averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists while managing various injuries. If he is unable to suit up Friday, much of the primary playmaking would fall to Desmond Bane and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Mavericks Hit Stride in Sacramento
Dallas enters Friday’s matchup on the heels of a dominant 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Wednesday’s 9–10 Play-In game. Anthony Davis led the way with 27 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in just his 10th appearance since being acquired in the Luka Dončić trade.
Klay Thompson scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including five threes, rebounding from his scoreless performance in last year’s Play-In against Sacramento. P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams added 17 points apiece, while Dante Exum chipped in 11 as Dallas shot 49.4% from the field and went 14-of-28 from deep.
The Mavericks built a 23-point halftime lead and committed just three turnovers before the break. Sacramento never mounted a serious challenge, and by the midway point of the fourth quarter, Dallas had all but punched its ticket to Friday’s final Play-In game.
Memphis Facing Adversity on Multiple Fronts
The Grizzlies have been dealing with more than just Ja Morant’s injury. Jaylen Wells and Brandon Clarke are out for the season, and the organization parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins in March. The team, which sat in second place in the West just over a month ago, finished the regular season 6-11 and is now fighting to avoid elimination.
“It’s tough. This one definitely hurts,” said Desmond Bane, who scored 30 points in Tuesday’s loss. “You never want to be in a situation where you lose a game and your season is over. It definitely hurts, but we’ve got to flip the page and get ready for our next opponent.”
“I wouldn’t say we were confident in where we were at, but the fall has been pretty hard on the team,” said Pippen Jr. “It’s definitely doable, but we put ourselves in this spot.”
Iisalo praised his team’s competitive spirit and likened Morant’s determination to that of the legendary Isaiah Thomas in the 1988 NBA Finals.
“We had a very good halftime talk with the guys where the basic idea was we have more to give,” Iisalo said. “Unfortunately, it’s been the story … we play a hell of a game and are unable to close it.”
What’s at Stake
The winner of Friday’s game earns the No. 8 seed and will face the 68-14 Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The loser’s season ends. The NBA has already scheduled tipoff for Game 1 of the first-round series involving the Thunder for Sunday with a 12 p.m. CT start time.
For Dallas, the game represents an opportunity to continue its surge behind a now healthy Davis and a red-hot Thompson. For Memphis, it’s one final chance to pull together a fractured season — and it likely hinges on the condition of Ja Morant.
“The season will be over if you don’t,” Morant said Tuesday. “It’s simple.”
Both teams must submit an injury report on Thursday evening, which will provide clarity about Morant’s official status. However, it’s unlikely a firm development will occur until close to tipoff.
