Is Ja Morant playing tonight against the Charlotte Hornets? Latest on Grizzlies superstar's status (April 8)

Modified Apr 08, 2025 13:50 GMT

NBA: Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn — Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will play on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets. [photo: Imagn]

The Memphis Grizzlies removed Ja Morant from the injury list ahead of their game on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets. Morant, who was diagnosed with a non-Covid illness, sat out Saturday in the Grizzlies’ 109-103 win over the Detroit Pistons. The former All-Star will start to close out a three-game road trip.

Morant’s return should be a boost for the Grizzlies who are in a tight race for an outright playoff spot. They are No. 8 in the standings with a 46-32 record but they are only two games behind the third-ranked LA Lakers (48-30). With roughly four games remaining for every contending team, the Grizzlies want to surge to end the season with Morant available.

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What happened to Ja Morant?

Ja Morant has dealt with back, AC joint, foot, shoulder, knee and hamstring injuries this season. The last of his ailments caused him to miss six games, the biggest reason why the Grizzlies dropped in the standings. From No. 4 in the West, they slid to No. 8 although they remain in contention for a top-four finish.

Six games after returning from a hamstring injury, the uber-athletic guard had to sit out another game because of a non-Covid related illness. The Grizzlies are desperately hoping he stays healthy to finish the season.

Memphis Grizzlies have struggled without Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies are 17-14 this season without Ja Morant. They went 2-4 during the stretch when he went down with a hamstring injury. More worryingly, they suffered crucial losses against teams heavy into playoff jostling.

Morant is still arguably the Grizzlies’ most explosive scorer and best playmaker. Without him, the team unsurprisingly struggled.

After squaring off with the Hornets in Charlotte, the Grizzlies will face three Western Conference teams with high playoff stakes. They will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, fly to Denver on Friday to face the Nuggets and then return to face the Dallas Mavericks.

The Grizzlies need Morant to be available and hope he plays his best to help turn the team’s season around. If he continues to sit games or struggles, Memphis will likely drop to the play-in tournament.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Rajdeep Barman