The Playoffs are almost here, and the West is still undecided! Packed, fun, and it is all wild in the West right now! The race for the postseason has never been this hot. Reason? There’s not much gap between the top eight teams in the Western Conference. So, a lot could change before the season’s finale. Among the teams aiming for a precious playoff spot are the Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant and Co. did hit a rough patch after they parted ways with their head coach, Taylor Jenkins. However, they seem to have come out of that pain now, as they are back after two crucial wins against Miami and Detroit. Still, they’ve dropped to the 8th seed, and every game is a must-win for the Grizzlies. They hit the road tonight to face the Charlotte Hornets, and if results fall their way, then the tables may turn any way. But are the big guns playing?
There’s not much to say about the Charlotte Hornets, who hold a 19-59 record this season. Similarly, they do not have much riding on this game other than this being their final home game of the season. Meanwhile, Memphis is heavily motivated to win this game. However, they might have to do that without their franchise player, Ja Morant. There is a big question mark over the point guard’s fitness as he missed the last game. So, will Ja Morant suit up tonight against the Hornets?
Every game left in the Grizzlies’ schedule has a playoff-like feel to it; at least they should treat it as one. But for that, they will need to be at their full strength. That wouldn’t be possible without their starting point guard. The Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant missed Saturday night’s matchup after he was ruled out just before tip-off due to food poisoning. Not the type of injury news anyone was expecting. Nonetheless, interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo provided the relieving update on the Memphis superstar. “He’s doing great,” said Iisalo after the team’s practice session on Monday. So, the prayers answered?
“Fortunately, he’s feeling a lot better already, and that’s obviously a big load off everybody’s mind. It was unfortunate that it came right before the game that he can’t go, and our guys really stepped up in his absence. Super, super excited to have him back.” He added. It’s great news for the Grizzlies faithful that Morant is expected to be back in action tonight. Ja, the 25-year-old, hit a buzzer-beater on Thursday against the Miami Heat to give the Grizzlies a much-needed win, snapping a four-game skid. He’s arguably been the best player for the Grizzlies this season. Morant is averaging 22.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. So, having him back will be a huge boost for the team.
The Grizzlies are a far better side with Morant on the court than without him. But do Memphis’s problems end here? No. Despite having Morant back, the Grizzlies have a couple of injuries in their camp. One of the players they’ll miss is young guard Zyon Pullin. The 24-year-old is not playing tonight due to an unfortunate knee injury. The youngster is yet to make an impact for the franchise and has just featured in three games so far. On the other hand, forward Brandon Clarke is also done and dusted for this season.
The 28-year-old Grizzlies player has been dealing with a disastrous injury. Clarke has received an Orthobiologic injection in his right knee following a knee injury. While it’s great news that Clarke won’t have to go through surgery, he is out for the remainder of the season. We can hope to see the Grizzlies forward back in action in the 2025-26 season. Overall, the Grizzlies look healthy, apart from missing Pullin and Clarke. This brings us to one question: How will the Grizzlies start the game tonight against the Hornets?
Having Ja Morant will be massive for the Grizzlies. He’s expected to slide right back to his position at point guard. Meanwhile, other Memphis starters such as Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. will also assume their roles. Bane contributed massively against the Pistons, dropping a massive 38-point performance. The Memphis faithful will hope he emulates his great scoring form tonight as well. Meanwhile, rookie Zach Edey had a monstrous game against the Pistons as well, grabbing 21 rebounds. He will also be required to step up tonight.
