Ja Morant was in the starting five in Friday night’s NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Dallas Mavericks in Memphis, a huge boost for the Grizzlies after Morant injured his ankle earlier this week.
Morant scored 22 points, dished nine assists and had three steals as the Grizzlies thrashed the Mavericks to earn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They will play Oklahoma City in a first-round series starting Sunday.
Morant turned his right ankle with about 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter of a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. He spent several minutes on the floor and seemed to be in considerable pain. He was able to return for a free throw, but left the court for treatment. He returned in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points.
Morant never went to the locker room, and the team said it was not planning to do X-rays Tuesday.
After the game, Morant told reporters: ‘I’m playing. That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.’
The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.
(This story was updated with new information Friday night.)
