Is Ja Morant playing tonight against Pacers? Exploring Memphis Grizzlies superstar's status for preseason game (Oct. 14)

The Memphis Grizzlies travel to Indianapolis on Monday to take on the Indiana Pacers and it remains unclear whether Ja Morant will take the court for the visiting team. The Memphis superstar is listed as a game-time decision for the preseason matchup after missing the team's previous two games due to a sprained ankle.

Morant struggled with injuries last season as well, and will be hoping to be 100 percent before the Grizzlies' regular-season opener on October 23 against the Utah Jazz. Due to a right shoulder issue and a suspension from the league for his off-court conduct, the 25-year-old featured in just nine games last campaign.

The Grizzlies avoided risking Morant in their last two preseason games. Taylor Jenkins' side was defeated 119-94 by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, before bouncing back to secure their first preseason win against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

Ja Morant has not featured in the lineup since the October 7 game against the Dallas Mavericks. On that occasion, the 6-foot-2 guard played 18 minutes and put up solid numbers. He finished the night with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

When healthy, Morant is considered one of the NBA's most effective players. He is known for his quickness, scoring ability and thunderous dunks. The former Murray State star was named the Rookie of the Year in 2020 and followed that up by being named to the All-Star team in 2022 and 2023.

Since making his debut in 2019, Morant has gone on to play in 257 regular season games and has a career average of 22.5 points, 7.4 assists, 4.8 rebounds per game.

The Grizzlies hope Ja Morant can lead them back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2023/24 season

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reacts after a dunk against the San Antonio Spurs at FedExForum. Photo Credit: Imagn

Ja Morant has been central to Jenkins' offense and the team has failed to replicate their previous highs without the talented guard. The Grizzlies reached the playoffs over three consecutive seasons between 2021-2023. Morant was also a key piece of the 2022 Grizzlies team that went all the way to the Western Conference semifinals.

Without their star player, the Memphis Grizzlies struggled to find any consistency last season. The team finished with an underwhelming 27-55 record and averaged just 105.8 points per game, the lowest in the Western Conference.

After a disappointing 2023/24 campaign, the Grizzlies will be hoping a healthy Morant can help revive their struggling offense and lead them back to the playoffs this season.