The Memphis Grizzlies are one loss away from being eliminated early in the 2025 NBA playoffs after a 114-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 last night.
Not only did the Memphis Grizzlies lose the game (and probably the series), but they also lost their best player to injury, as Ja Morant sustained a hip contusion after a hard fall with less than four minutes left in the first half.
Morant hurt his hip after Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort undercut him on a dunk attempt. The two-time NBA All-Star left the court with 15 points and five rebounds on 6-for-11 shooting from the field and never returned to the game. Dort said after the game that he meant no harm to Morant.
“It’s a tough one,” Dort said via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I was running back, making a hustle play for my team. I was running quick, stopped on a dime. I didn’t know he was behind me and I was slipping, so I still tried to make a play on the ball. I hope he’s OK. I obviously didn’t mean to hit him like that.”
Memphis Grizzlies dropped the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Memphis Grizzlies led by 27 points when Ja Morant left the game. Memphis extended their lead to 29 on the next possession but couldn’t fend off Oklahoma City’s furious rally in the second half.
Scotty Pippen Jr. had 28 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and six three-pointers on 8-for-16 shooting from the field. Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, and Desmond Bane added 22, 14, and 10 points in the losing effort.
Memphis will look to stave off elimination when they host Oklahoma City for Game 4 this Saturday.
