Ja Morant Injury: Sits out series-ending loss

Morant (hip) didn't play Saturday in the Grizzlies' 117-115 loss to the Thunder in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series. He finished the series with averages of 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 three-pointers across 27.3 minutes per contest in three appearances.

Though a hip contusion kept him from playing in an elimination game, Morant's offseason training program shouldn't be affected by the injury. Even so, health continues to be a concern for the 25-year-old guard, who also missed 32 of the Grizzlies' 82 games during the regular season due to an assortment of injuries. Over his 50 appearances, Morant averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds. 1.8 three-pointers and 1.2 steals across 30.4 minutes per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field. The scoring average and field-goal percentage were his lowest marks since the 2021-22 season, and it came even while the Grizzlies led the NBA with a 106.2 pace factor. Morant remains an integral part of the Grizzlies' long-term plans, but the seventh-place MVP finish he turned in during the 2021-22 campaign could represent the peak of his career.