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Why Isn’t Ja Morant Playing?
Ja Morant isn’t playing because he sprained his left ankle late in the Grizzlies’ win over the Clippers, only his second game back from a month‑long absence with a right calf strain. He landed on another player’s foot in the fourth quarter, limped off, and ended up in a walking boot and on crutches at shootaround the next day, which is never the visual you want for your franchise guard.
Before that ankle tweak, he’d already missed around 10 games in a row after hurting his calf on November 15 against the Cavaliers, checking out early and never returning. For a player whose whole game is built on violent changes of direction and explosive first steps, calf and ankle problems are basically the nightmare combo. You can almost feel Memphis’ collective flinch every time he plants and pushes off.
Is Ja Morant Playing Tonight?
No Ja Morant is not expected to play tonight, as he’s listed out with that left ankle sprain on the latest Timberwolves–Grizzlies injury report. After being downgraded from questionable to doubtful and then ruled out, the team is clearly opting for caution rather than trying to squeeze him back in for a December game. Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) reported on X that the Grizzlies have listed Ja Morant (left ankle sprain) as doubtful for tonight's game against Minnesota.
This means more ball‑handling duties for the rest of the backcourt and, honestly, another night where Memphis fans check the lineup graphic and sigh a little. Cam Spencer has already been the primary guard insurance policy in this stretch, and he’ll keep soaking up minutes and possessions while Morant sits. If you’re the type who refreshes apps 20 times before tipoff, this is one of those nights where the answer is settled early: no surprise return, no “game‑time decision” drama just out.
Is Ja Morant Hurt?
Yes, Ja Morant is hurt technically twice over in the same season, with a right calf strain followed by a left ankle sprain. The calf strain is what originally sidelined him in mid‑November, and even though he worked back to full practice and got cleared, the ankle twist came almost immediately after his return. Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) shared on X that Ja Morant is hurt again, though it's unclear how bad the injury is.
The team has described the ankle as a “tweak” rather than something catastrophic, but when you stack it on top of that calf issue, it adds up to a worrying pattern. It’s the kind of thing that reminds you how thin the line is for high‑flyers one bad landing, one misstep on a defender’s foot, and suddenly the highlights are replaced by slow‑motion replays of him grimacing and heading to the tunnel.
When Will Ja Morant Return?
There’s no firm return date for Ja Morant, but the tone around the Grizzlies suggests a short‑to‑medium absence rather than a season‑ending one. After the calf strain, he moved from “no timeline” to “day‑to‑day” and finally got upgraded to questionable and then active for the Jazz game, so the organization has already shown it’s willing to take the long view with his lower‑body health.
With the ankle, he’s currently listed as out, and local reporting frames it as something the team hopes will calm down rather than a major structural injury. Realistically, that usually means the medical staff will watch how he responds over a few days of treatment and testing, then ramp him up in practice before clearing him. If you forced a guess, it feels more like “miss a handful of games” than “shut it down,” but until the next official update hits, it’s all cautious optimism and crossed fingers in Memphis.
Ja Morant Stats
Statistically, Ja Morant’s current campaign is a weird mix: the playmaking is very much there, but the scoring efficiency has dipped. In this injury‑hit stretch of the 2025–26 season, he’s averaging around 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game, while shooting just 35.9% from the field and 16.7% from three in his limited appearances. That’s a noticeable step down from his previous full year, when he put up 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over 50 games.
If you zoom out, it paints the picture of a star still capable of controlling an offense, but fighting his body, rhythm, and shot at the same time. Anyone who has watched him since his early Memphis days knows how quickly those numbers can spike once he strings together a few healthy weeks. For now, though, the box scores tell the same story the injury reports do: flashes of the old Morant, interrupted too often by that unwelcome “out – calf/ankle” line.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general information and entertainment only, not medical, betting, or professional advice. Player status, injuries, and lineups change quickly. Always double‑check final updates through official NBA, team, or league sources before making any decisions based on this content.
