The condition of Ja Morant, the guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, is still uncertain as they approach a potentially elimination game in the Western Conference against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Morant sustained his injury during a fall in Game 3, which played a significant role in the team’s loss of 114-108.

While there were rumors regarding Morant’s unavailability for Game 4 tomorrow, coach Tuomas Iisalo refrained from confirming this.

“They’re still examining him,” Iisalo explained when questioned about the guard’s condition, stating that Morant did not participate in practice today.

When queried about the tests conducted for Morant, Iisalo mentioned, “I don’t know. I’m not a medical person.”

In Game 3, Morant was involved in a fast break with teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. when he was hit from below by Luguentz Dort, causing him to fall without cushioning his landing.

Although the move was reviewed for excessive contact, it was ruled as a common foul. Morant laid on the court while medical staff and fellow players attended to him.

He attempted to leave for the locker room but returned to take two free throws in case he could rejoin the game, but he missed both. This left the Grizzlies with a 67-40 lead, which had ballooned to 29 points just minutes earlier.

Morant did not return, and the Grizzlies ultimately squandered the lead, giving up 63-31 to the Thunder in the second half.

Much like Iisalo, Memphis guard Desmond Bane stated he did not have updated information on Morant’s status for Game 4.

“I haven’t heard anything about Ja missing the game,” Bane remarked.

He further emphasized that eliminating turnovers and controlling possession will be essential for the Grizzlies to secure a win in this best-of-seven series.

The Grizzlies had constructed a significant 29-point advantage in the first half prior to Morant’s injury. However, his absence resulted in stagnant offense and excessive turnovers, particularly under the pressure defense from the Thunder, leading to their comeback, the second-largest in NBA playoff history since comprehensive record-keeping began in 1996-97.

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The only greater comeback was mounted by the L.A. Clippers against the Golden State Warriors on April 15, 2019, when they came back from a 31-point deficit.

“We’re going to have to get stops and transition quickly,” Bane stated. “That was major for us, and Morant is a big contributor to that.”

Morant had previously missed 32 games during the regular season due to various issues, including four games for shoulder pain and five more for hamstring soreness. He also sat out eight games with a subluxation and strain of his hip muscle.

Morant was absent from the last three games of the Grizzlies’ series against the Golden State Warriors in 2022 due to a knee injury sustained in Game 3 of the playoffs.