The Memphis Grizzlies could get Ja Morant and Cedric Coward for tonight’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. M0rant and Coward are both considered questionable after sitting out Tuesday’s contest.
Grizzlies Slated To Get 2 Starters Back, But Still Extremely Shorthanded
Morant has missed the past four games due to a sprained ankle. Before the ankle injury, Morant had played just two games since returning from a calf injury, which caused him to miss 10 games. Still, he has compiled four double-doubles and scored 20+ points five times.
Morant has struggled this year. The Grizzlies are just 5-9 in the games Morant has played this year, and he has a negative plus/minus rating of -4.1. His shooting percentage is the worst of his career, as he is shooting just 35.7% from the field and 19.4% from deep.
Coward is having a sensational rookie campaign and is coming off the first absence of the season. Coward sat out the Grizzlies’ 138-124 victory over Utah on Tuesday.
Even if Morant and Coward do return to the court, Memphis will remain severely shorthanded. The Grizzlies list six players out versus the Bucks: Vince Williams Jr, Brandon Clarke, Jon Konchar, Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo has used a nine-man rotation lately. Despite being shorthanded, the Grizzlies have managed to stay afloat. The Grizzlies have won 10 of their last 15.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been the steady force for the Grizzlies’ defense, which ranks 12th. Santi Aldama, Cam Spencer, and Jaylen Wells have really stepped up their production over this 15-game stretch.
The Grizzlies sit in ninth place in the West with a 14-16 record with a negative -1.2 scoring margin. The Griz have struggled at home (6-8) and against good teams (2-14). Ten of their losses have been by double-digits.
After tonight’s contest against the Bucks, Memphis heads to Washington on Sunday. The Grizzlies then host Philadelphia on Tuesday before facing the Lakers twice in Los Angeles over the weekend.
When Could Memphis Injured Players Return?
Vince Williams Jr.
Williams Jr. is sitting out his fourth straight game with left knee soreness. Williams has been a revelation at point guard with Morant out. Known more as a 3-and-D guard who would do the little things, his playmaking has really taken off this year. So much so that his assist percentage is near elite, though turnovers are an issue, with just a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Williams Jr. has the second-best plus/minus on the team at +3.0. The Grizzlies are 10-12 in contests that Wiliams has played this season, including in starts. He may return to action on Sunday, but that is not a given.
Brandon Clarke
Clarke made his season debut on December 17 and played only two games. But he is now out for at least 2.5 weeks due to a Grade 2 right calf strain. Given the timetable, Clarke will be out until mid-January.
Jon Konchar
Konchar is a key member of the Grizzlies’ second unit. Konchar has been sidelined since December 8 and underwent surgery to repair the UCL tear in his left thumb. He is slated to be reevaluated in early January, but could remain until the end of next month, depending on rehab progress.
Zach Edey
Edey has only played 11 games this season due to injuries. Edey has been sidelined since December 7 with a stress reaction in his left ankle, the same ankle he had offseason surgery on. He has already sat out six of the minimum 15 games he is slated to miss. He is expected to be reevaluated on January 9.
Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Jerome has yet to play this season due to a right calf strain. It has been six weeks since Jerome, expected to be a key member of the Griz’s second unit, was expected to miss six to nine weeks of action. So, he should be “good” to go by the end of January.
Pippen Jr., like Jerome, was slated to be a big part of the Grizzlies’ backcourt rotation, also hasn’t played this season due to a toe injury. Back in October, the Grizzlies said that Pippen would be reevaluated in 12 weeks. That would mean the earliest he could be cleared is mid-January.
Both Jerome and Pippen Jr. will need time to ramp up after being cleared. So, don’t expect either player to play in a regular-season game until February.
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