Grizzlies shellshocked by Ja Morant’s ‘frustrating’ hip injury, Thunder's 29-point comeback

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

Through 21 minutes of a season-defining Game 3, the Memphis Grizzlies felt like things were finally going their way in FedEx Forum.

After getting bullied in the first two games of their first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies figured out how to throw a counter-punch impactful enough to make the team with the best record in the NBA stumble.

As Memphis built a huge lead, it was a cathartic moment for everyone in attendance after feeling like it was impossible to put a dent in the Thunders armor following back-to-back victories by a combined 70 points to open the series.

Advertisement This team was finally showing some pride in an effort to salvage whatever was left of its season.

Then, all those emotions and the face of the Grizzlies franchise came crashing down in a moments notice.

With 3:15 left in the second quarter, Grizzlies star Ja Morant attempted to go up for a transition layup after a steal by his teammate, Scotty Pippen Jr.

But as Morant rose through the air, Thunder forward Lu Dort mistakenly undercut him, causing Morant to fall awkwardly and crash to the floor on his left hip.

After rolling around in pain for a few minutes, Morant picked himself up and shot two free throws before limping off the floor and ripping off his jersey as he slowly made his way to the locker room.

Morants night was done .

Oh man.

Ja Morant down on the court in pain after being undercut by Lu Dort.

pic.twitter.com/MfQN5Xv79p eric (@EricTweetsNBA) April 25, 2025 All the joy and optimism that filled the building was slowly replaced by despair and fury as the Thunder pounced on a wounded Grizzlies team and fought back from a 29-point deficit to escape with a shocking 114-108 victory.

Thursdays win pushed Oklahomas series lead to 3-0 and left Memphis one loss away from a first-round sweep.

After watching Memphis get embarrassed the way it did in the first two games, a potential sweep felt almost inevitable in this series.

But watching the Grizzlies blow a golden opportunity after Morants injury made this loss even more cruel.

Its tough.

I dont even know how to describe it, said Pippen, who finished with a playoff career-high 28 points.

Its definitely frustrating.

Trying to figure out what we can do.

But theres still no let up.

Weve still got another game to play.

This 29-point comeback will go down as a historic loss for the Grizzlies.

Its the second-largest comeback by any team in a playoff game since play-by-play data started being recorded in 1997.

The 31 points they finished with in the second half was also the lowest-scoring half in franchise history during a playoff game.

Advertisement However, this collapse was just a microcosm of this teams demise thats been going on for months and led to them going from the No.

2 seed in early March to potentially getting swept in the first round by the No.

1 seed.

This one goes to the top, but Memphis has had much experience with gut-wrenching losses since the beginning of March.

This team lost its head coach with nine games left in the regular season.

It went over two months without a win over a team that was .500 or better.

It lost key role players, Jaylen Wells and Brandon Clarke, weeks before the start of the postseason.

The Grizzlies have felt snakebitten for quite some time as theyve attempted to salvage a season thats been heading down the drain for a while.

Whenever it appears like theyve made some progress, something like this happens that drags them back down to square one.

Its tough to see somebody go down like that, especially Ja.

He brings the energy.

Hes always one of the loudest guys and he just loves playing, Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama said after the loss.

Its tough for sure, but at some point youve got to win the game.

When asked if this is the worst loss hes ever experienced, Aldama provided a blunt answer.

It would be hard to find another one like this, he said.

Before his injury, Morant looked like he was following through on his promise after Game 2 when he vowed to be better following his teams 19-point loss.

On Thursday, he played 15 minutes, finishing with 15 points and five assists.

Memphis outscored Oklahoma City by 16 points when its superstar point guard was on the court.

Morant did return to the bench to be with his teammates in the second half after he was already ruled out for the game, but he could be seen next to the bench standing with crutches, which isnt a great sign for his availability moving forward.

Advertisement Without Morant on the floor to provide his energy, playmaking and acrobatic shots around the rim, the Grizzlies were lifeless on offense.

They went from scoring 77 points with only three turnovers in the first half to being held to 31 points and turning the ball over 13 times in the second half.

Considering how Oklahoma Citys suffocating defenses can squeeze the life out of opponents even when theyre at full strength, once the Thunder smelled blood in the second half, they pounced on the Grizzlies and barely left any room for them to breathe.

It was unfortunate, Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson said.

They ramped up their pressure for sure.

We definitely felt that in the second half.

They turned us over a bit and forced us into some shots that were maybe a bit rushed.

The feelings coming away from a loss like this are only intensified when considering Morants history with untimely injuries in the postseason.

In 2022, he missed the last three games of his teams second-round loss to the Golden State Warriors due to a right knee injury.

In 2023, he missed Game 2 of the Grizzlies first-round loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a right hand injury, but he admitted that his play was hindered for most of the series as he fought to play through the pain.

Then, there were the injuries and the 25-game suspension that led to Morant missing all but nine games during the 2023-24 season.

And during this postseason, hes been battling a right ankle sprain he suffered a few weeks ago during the Play-In Tournament.

Even with his phenomenal physical gifts, this injury will only add to some of the skepticism around Morant and his ability to stay healthy enough to be the leader of a true contender.

And considering the quick turnaround with Game 4 of this series coming up on Saturday at 2:30 pm CT, theres a strong possibility that Morant might add one more missed playoff game to his ledger before this series is over.

Advertisement I bet its tough for him.

Its tough for us.

You never want to see your brother go down like that, Jackson said.

When hes not on the floor, you miss all the things he can do: the gravity he has on offense, you have to account for him at all times, his speed bring up the ball, his leadership.

Its all sorts of stuff you have to pick up when he goes down like that.

Now, the Grizzlies have to pick themselves up off the mat and prepare for an elimination game on Saturday that could potentially end this chaotic and underwhelming season.

The uphill battle they face will become even steeper if Morant cannot go.

Regardless, this teams will to keep fighting and preserve this season and perhaps this era of Grizzlies basketball will be on full display.

After losing by 51 points in Game 1 and blowing a 29-point lead in Game 3, do the Grizzlies have anything left to give? Thatll be the No.

1 question going into Saturday afternoon.

Our togetherness gets seriously tested right here, Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo said.

Thats the message.

Stick together, do our best.

We saw today where it could lead to, especially in the first half.

Weve got to keep doing it.

(Photo: Justin Ford/Getty Images).

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