NBA
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant doubtful against Kings
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All posts by James FoglioUpdated21 Nov 2022
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is listed as doubtful for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. Desmond Bane (toe), Danny Green (knee), and Ziaire Williams (knee) are out for Memphis.
On Friday, Morant suffered a Grade 1 sprain to his left ankle in the Grizzlies’ 121-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The All-Star has not yet been ruled out versus Sacramento.
Per multiple NBA betting sites, the Grizzlies have the 11th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. Some sportsbooks show better odds for the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference.
Status report, 11/22 vs SAC:
DOUBTFUL
Morant – LT Ankle SprainOUT
Bane – RT Big Toe Sprain
Green – LT Knee Surgery Recovery
Lofton Jr. – G League Two-Way Transfer
Tillman Sr. – G League Assignment
Z. Williams – RT Patellar Tendinitis
V. Williams Jr. – G League Two-Way Transfer— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) November 21, 2022
Through 14 starts this season, the fourth-year guard is averaging 28.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. The guard has posted three double-doubles. Plus, he’s shooting 46.5% from the floor and 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Furthermore, the Grizzlies are coming off a 127-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Dillon Brooks led Memphis in scoring with 31 points. However, Memphis struggled throughout the fourth quarter without Morant, Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is listed as doubtful for Tuesday night’s home game against Kings
However, the Grizzlies trailed by just three points after the third quarter. It was competitive earlier on, but then the Nets went on an 18-5 run. Yuta Watanabe made four 3-pointers to help give Brooklyn a 114-98 lead.
“It was, I thought, a heck of a first three quarters,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said after the loss. “Three-point game, just didn’t make enough plays in the fourth quarter. They got hot.”
Of course, the Kings are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA at the moment. They have won six consecutive games for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
Ja was helped off the court after an apparent ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/ExZoWSxqJB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 19, 2022
During Sacramento’s six-game winning streak, the team is averaging 131.5 points per game. The Kings are averaging more points (121.4) than any other team since the 1983-84 Denver Nuggets.
As for the Grizzlies, they’ve lost three of their last four games.
Additionally, the Kings rank fifth overall in point differential (+3.9), trailing the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Following Sacramento’s 137-129 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night, the team improved to 9-6, the Kings’ best 15-game start since the 2014-15 season.
At 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the Kings play the Grizzlies at FedExForum. According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Sacramento has a 50.8% chance of winning. This game can be watched live on Bally Sports Southeast.
