NBA Rumors: After suffering an injury in Game 1, Ja Morant’s status for Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers is very much in doubt.
After making a statement in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to take a series-commanding lead in Game 2. Despite the Lakers’ impressive play in Game 1, the story up until the start of Game 2 will revolve around Ja Morant’s health.
Already battling a hand injury, Morant appeared to re-injure that same hand while taking a fall late in the fourth quarter. He left the game and didn’t return. With not much time between now and Game 2, the early indications are that Morant could be out for the next game in this series.
Game 2 between the Lakers and Grizzlies is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19. There is time but if Morant is seriously injured, those three days before Game 2 might not even matter. You hate to see injuries at this point in the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers could be in a prime position to take a stranglehold of series
Heading into Game 2, the Lakers could be in a prime position to take early control of the series. They’ve already done a great job of that will their Game 1 win which now gives them homecourt advantage at the moment. But if the Lakers are able to steal Game 2 with Morant out as well, that would be a huge development for this team’s chances to advance in this series.
Then again, if Morant is out for Game 2 or longer, this series may already be over. With both teams at full strength, there’s already an argument to be made that the Lakers could win this series. You take the Grizzlies’ best player out of the series and I think we all know how this ends.
If Morant can try to give it a go in Game 2, you’d have to believe that he will. And you’d have to imagine that if Morant can play without a chance of making the injury worse, you assume that he will. That’s the type of player he is. He’s a gamer.
For his status to be in doubt says that the injury could be serious. And if that’s the case, it would be quite unfortunate. The last thing that anyone wants is for an injury to determine a playoff series.