Ja Morant Out Four Weeks
The Trail Blazers guard suffered a Grade 2 hamstring sprain against his former team, disrupting Portland's backcourt plans.
By Maya Morris ·
Ja Morant will sit out the next four weeks for the Portland Trail Blazers after sustaining a Grade 2 left hamstring sprain. The team announced the injury following Thursday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant left the court with 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return.
The injury occurred after Morant missed a floater in the lane. He went to retrieve the ball and appeared to feel the pull in his left leg. He remained on the floor for two defensive possessions before exiting at the next stoppage. In 23 minutes of play, he recorded 14 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
The Grizzlies won the matchup 124-103. The result marked Portland's first loss of the 2026-27 season. The Trail Blazers had started the campaign with victories over the Lakers, Kings, and Suns. This game was Morant's first against his former franchise since his trade to Portland this summer.
Morant has played in only 79 games over the last three seasons. He appeared in just 20 contests during the 2025-26 campaign. In his first four games with Portland, he averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Veteran guard Jrue Holiday is expected to start in Morant's absence. First-year coach Micah Nori has managed a crowded backcourt that includes Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe. Sharpe is also out with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. Nori has played Lillard the most minutes, averaging 29.5 per game, while Morant averaged 25.8.
Henderson may move into a larger role off the bench. He currently averages 18.8 minutes per game, behind Sidy Cissoko who logs 22.8. Portland holds the second-best defensive rating in the NBA at 101.3 through the first week and a half of the season. The addition of Holiday to the starting lineup is expected to strengthen that metric.
Morant joins a long list of NBA players dealing with injuries early in the season. Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are all set to miss upcoming games. Ben Simmons of the Kings tore his Achilles in practice and will miss the entire 2026-27 season.
Source: CBS Sports
