Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a left hip injury during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA playoffs after a mid-air collision with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lu Dort late in the second quarter. The injury forced Morant out of the game as Memphis slipped 27 points away in a 114-108 loss, putting the Grizzlies down 3-0 in the series.
The injury occurred with 3:15 remaining in the second quarter when Morant elevated for a fast-break layup and collided mid-air with Dort, who appeared to lose his footing while attempting to contest the play. Morant landed hard on his left hip, grimaced in pain, and remained on the floor for several moments before limping to the free-throw line and missing both attempts.
Despite returning briefly to the court, Morant immediately headed to the locker room after removing his jersey, later reappearing on crutches during the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies officially ruled him out for the remainder of the game, and his status for Game 4 remains uncertain. Interim coach Tuomas Iisalo confirmed that Morant is undergoing further evaluation.
“He’s going through further evaluations tomorrow,” Iisalo said post-game. “Then we’ll know more.”
Fan reaction
The incident sparked intense online debate, with Draymond Green and numerous fans labeling the collision a “dirty play”. Some accused Dort of being reckless, arguing that Morant’s injury could’ve been avoided.
“Lu Dort has to be the dirtiest player in the NBA,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Grizzlies were up almost 30 with a chance to swing momentum into tying the series Saturday. Instead Lu Dort ends Ja Morant’s season on a reckless play,” another fan wrote.
Others came to Dort’s defense, citing the slip and his visible effort to contest the ball, not target Morant. After the play, Dort approached Morant and offered an apology, stating:
“I hope he’s OK. I obviously didn’t mean to hit him like that.”
The officials reviewed the play and called a common foul, reinforcing the view that the contact was incidental, not intentional.
Thunder stun Grizzlies with NBA playoffs’ second-largest comeback
At the time of Morant’s exit, the Grizzlies led by 27 points and appeared to be in control, aiming to avoid a 3-0 series hole. However, without their All-Star guard, Memphis unraveled. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points) and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder mounted a historic second-half rally, outscoring Memphis 74-41 after Morant left the floor.
Holmgren, who had zero points in the first half, caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 16 of his 24 points, including four 3-pointers. His explosion, coupled with relentless defense from Alex Caruso and company, turned the tide for OKC.
“Mark Daigneault changed the trajectory of the game,” Holmgren said. “Once I saw one go in, I felt good.”
According to ESPN Research, the 26-point comeback was the largest second-half rally in NBA playoff history and the second-largest comeback overall since 1997-98.
Before the injury, Morant had 15 points, five assists, and one rebound in just 16 minutes. The Grizzlies had built a massive lead due to effective shooting, especially from Scotty Pippen Jr., who scored 23 of his 28 points in the first half, going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
But after Morant’s departure, Memphis faced issues. They shot just 9-of-36 in the second half (3-of-20 from 3-point range) and committed more turnovers (13) than made field goals (9). OKC capitalized with 15 points off turnovers in the third quarter alone. “It’s not enough to fight. You also have to execute,” said Iisalo. “We didn’t.”
Now that the Grizzlies are facing elimination in Game 4, the team’s playoff hopes may rely on Morant’s injury status, which remains uncertain.
Ja Morant’s injury history adds concern
This isn’t the first time Morant has battled hip issues. Earlier in the 2024-25 season, he missed eight games due to a posterior hip subluxation sustained after a fall in a game against the Lakers. With Memphis already stretched thin, Morant’s availability could be a make-or-break factor for the series.
Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday, and the pressure is on Memphis. Without Morant, the Grizzlies are expected to rely heavily on Luke Kennard and Scotty Pippen Jr. for backcourt production. The Thunder, meanwhile, will look to complete the sweep and advance in the postseason.
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