Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies made a significant impact in the Western Conference elimination game against the Dallas Mavericks, despite battling a sprained right ankle. After receiving extensive treatment, including a pain-killing injection on Friday, Morant was determined to contribute to his team’s efforts in the high-stakes matchup.
Morant’s ankle injury occurred when he stepped on Buddy Hield’s foot and was subsequently fouled by Quinten Post. This injury typically would sideline players during the regular season, but Morant’s commitment to returning to action was evident as he engaged in pregame warmups about five minutes later than usual. He did not wear a boot on his injured ankle, a strong sign that he was ready to play.
Exactly thirty minutes before the first opening tip, Morant was confirmed as a starter. He got through his individual warmup, at which point he looked like a guy with no hesitance. He made that statement only after he initially limped off the court in-game, showing just how much the injury impacted him. Still, he came back early in the fourth and closed the game well, helping to provide the Grizzlies with 22 points they so sorely needed from him.
That resilience was something both coaches were impressed by going in to the game, but none more so than Morant. Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo expressed confidence in Morant’s determination, stating, “I know he’s doing everything possible to be able to play.” Meanwhile, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd acknowledged Morant’s competitive spirit, saying, “We’re prepared to see Ja. He’s a gamer. He’s a tough individual… We believe that he’s going to go.”
It wasn’t until Thursday’s MRI that they realized just how bad his ankle sprain was. In retaliation, medical personnel administered an injection to reduce his pain. He displayed unimaginable levels of tenacity and fierce loyalty to his team during the game. Even though he had to play through that pain, he went out and made a key three-point play.
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