Ja Morant's brutal injury has fans slamming OKC defensive stalwart

Ja Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies’ charge in the second quarter of Game 3 against the OKC Thunder on Thursday. The high-flying guard went for a layup against Lu Dort with roughly three minutes left in the period. Dort undercut the former All-Star, who fell hard on the floor.

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Fans promptly reacted to the play:

“Dort stays hurting players.”

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One fan said:

“The thuggish Lu Dort taking lessons from Ausar Thompson #shameless.”

Another fan added:

“Suspend Lu Dort for the entire playoffs.”

@NathanChester24 continued:

“Very tired of the NBA not protecting Ja Morant.”

@BHHHVipBets commented:

“Lu Dort needs to be ejected... shameless dirty act.”

Ja Morant writhed in pain on the floor for a few minutes. After the review, referees called it a common foul, which meant two free throws for Morant. The point guard gingerly stood up but missed both his attempts from the bonus line. Memphis led 67-40 when the play happened.

Meanwhile, Lu Dort remained in the game. He likely will have a key role for the OKC Thunder, who will try to rally for a crucial road win.

The Memphis Grizzlies struggled in the third quarter without Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 77-51 lead at halftime. With Ja Morant in the locker room, Scotty Pippen Jr., Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. carried the team.

After the halftime break, the Grizzlies did not have their first-half rhythm. The OKC Thunder showed why they have the best defense in the regular season and the playoffs. Oklahoma shackled the home team, which desperately needed Morant’s playmaking and ability to get to the rim.

Scotty Pippen, who had the hot hand in the first half, struggled to even get open looks. Without Morant’s gravity on defense, the Thunder clamped down on the unheralded guard. Desmond Bane, who has had a rough-shooting night, could not get going as well.

After trailing by 29 points in the second quarter, the OKC Thunder beat up the Memphis Grizzlies to open the second half. With Morant in the locker room, the home team lost the period 36-18. Oklahoma crawled to within 95-87 entering the fourth quarter and eventually took the game 114-108.

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.

Know More

Grizzlies Nation! You can check out the latest Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and dive into the Grizzlies Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.