Grizzlies Beat Lakers: Ja Morant Injured

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Post on Nov 07, 2024

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Grizzlies Claw Past Lakers, But Morant's Injury Casts Shadow

Memphis escaped with a nail-biting 119-115 win over the Lakers on Tuesday, but the victory came at a cost. Star guard Ja Morant left the game in the third quarter with a right hand injury, sending shockwaves through the FedExForum.

The Grizzlies were already playing without Jaren Jackson Jr. (right foot) and Desmond Bane (toe), so Morant's absence was a major blow. The Lakers, despite their struggles, pushed hard and almost pulled off the upset. But the Grizzlies, fueled by a scorching hot Dillon Brooks, managed to hold on.

Brooks, the Grizzlies' resident bad boy, exploded for 38 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 1:30 left that put Memphis up for good. He was the only Grizzly who could reliably get a bucket after Morant went down, carrying the team through the final minutes.

But the talk after the game wasn't about Brooks' heroics, it was all about Morant's injury. The young star, who was having an MVP-caliber season, got tangled up with LeBron James while trying to get a steal. He immediately grabbed his right hand and walked off the court in obvious pain.

No official diagnosis has been made, but the team's initial assessment is that Morant sustained a "right hand contusion." The Grizzlies will likely give Morant an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, and it's unclear how long he will be sidelined.

This is a huge blow for the Grizzlies, who are currently in the middle of a tight race for the Western Conference title. Morant is their engine, their leader, their most important player. Losing him for any extended period of time could seriously derail their season.

While the win over the Lakers was a good result, the potential loss of Morant hangs over everything like a dark cloud. The Grizzlies need to find a way to weather this storm, and quickly. They need to rely on their depth, their grit, and their determination to keep their heads above water until Morant returns.

The Grizzlies' next game is on Thursday against the Clippers. The question is, will they be ready to roar without their young leader?