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UPDATE: Jan. 16, 2:02 p.m. — Morant is being listed as questionable again for Saturday’s game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. The Grizzlies had their game on Friday against the T-Wolves postponed due to concerns surrounding Covid-19 and health and safety protocols. So Morant had another day to get ready to return to the lineup after being sidelined the past eight games.
Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant is being listed as questionable to return to the lineup Friday vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Morant has been sidelined since Dec. 28 due to a bad ankle sprain. He has missed the past eight game for the Grizzlies, who are 4-4 without Morant in the lineup. Memphis is on a three-game winning streak and getting its star guard back in the lineup would be a major boost.
Morant has missed eight games with a Grade 2 ankle sprain suffered vs. Nets on Dec. 28. https://t.co/17mfSgkOnC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 14, 2021
With Morant sidelined, the Grizzlies have been starting Tyus Jones at point guard. He’s done a decent job, averaging 10 points and 7.6 assists in the month of January. The thing Jones lacks is the ability to score like Morant, a dynamic that the Grizzlies have missed during this stretch. Dillon Brooks also didn’t do a great job stepping up to fill the scoring void. The Grizz have also been without Jaren Jackson Jr. to start the season. So if Morant can get back in the lineup, this would help the offense overall.
Morant was averaging 26.3 points and 6.3 assists per game prior to the injury. Right now, Morant is +10000 to win Most Improved Player, a line that will likely change once Morant gets back and up to full speed. Getting in on this number now may not be a bad idea. It’s still early enough in the season where Morant can play around 55-60 games and have enough of a case for the award the way he was playing before the injury.
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