Grizzlies star Ja Morant to miss up to 5 weeks with ankle sprain

The Memphis Grizzlies announced on Tuesday that Ja Morant suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain and is expected to miss three to five weeks while recovering.

Morant suffered the injury in Monday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. He rolled his left ankle after jumping to block a shot by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and left the court in a wheelchair. He returned to the sideline later in the game wearing a protective boot.

Morant responded to the news on Twitter after the Grizzlies’ announcement.

The injury is a tough blow for Morant, who was off to a red-hot start this season on the heels of his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2019-20. In his first two games, Morant averaged 36 points, eight assists and two rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. He scored a career-high 44 points in last week’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

Grizzlies hampered by early-season injuries

Morant hits the sideline alongside other key Grizzlies players, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justice Winslow. Jackson sprained his left knee in February and suffered a torn meniscus in the same knee in August, requiring surgery. He is sidelined indefinitely.

Winslow is dealing with a lingering hip injury that knocked him out of the NBA bubble last season and is still waiting to play his first game for Memphis since being acquired from the Miami Heat via trade in February.

The Grizzlies are off to a 1-2 start after Monday’s win.

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