Ja Morant Makes Major Decision for Mavericks Game

Yahoo

13-05-2025

The Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks will face off in a win-or-go-home Play-In matchup on Friday at the FedExForum. The Grizzlies lost 121-116 to the Golden State Warriors in the seven vs. eight-seed game on Tuesday, while the Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 120-106 in the nine vs. 10-seed game on Wednesday.
Ja Morant's status has been in question since he sprained his ankle on Tuesday. The two-time All-Star scored 22 points (9-18 FG, 4-9 3 PT) with six rebounds, four assists, and one steal across 39 minutes in the contest.
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However, there was a positive Morant update hours before Friday's game, via Shams Charania.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant dribbles the basketball as Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware looks on.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
"In the 24 hours after that ankle sprain against the Warriors, Ja Morant had an MRI on Thursday," he said. "It revealed no structural damage, but he has a severe ankle sprain is my understanding. He underwent an injection as well on Thursday for the swelling and the pain in that ankle."
"But he's telling people around the Grizzlies he's going to be playing tonight, he's determined to play," he continued. "Like Tim McMahon just said, doubt he plays if this is a regular season game. This is a single-elimination game for the Grizzlies. The team will evaluate him pre-game tonight, so I think around 40-60 minutes [left on] the clock we will know if Ja Morant will play."
Morant averaged 23.2 points on 45.4 percent shooting (30.9 percent 3 PT) with 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists across 50 regular season games.
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Whoever wins Friday's game will be the Western Conference's eighth seed and face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
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