SAN FRANCISCO — The Memphis Grizzlies are concerned about star point guard Ja Morant, who limped off the court with more than five minutes remaining in a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors after Jordan Poole grabbed Morant’s right knee during a trap near half court.
Morant left without talking to reporters but tweeted “broke the code,” with video of Poole grabbing his knee on a fourth-quarter play, before later deleting the tweet. Morant could be seen walking with a limp toward the team bus following Memphis’ 142-112 Game 3 loss at the Chase Center on Saturday night.
The team did not specify Morant’s injury, saying only that he was being further evaluated.
“We’re going to ride for our own,” Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr. said when asked about the team’s feeling regarding the play with Poole. “You know our mentality … you know, make a play on the ball. It’s unfortunate. You never want to see that type of stuff. Obviously, it’s not done by — no one is out here dirty. No one is out here like that. But it’s just unfortunate.”
Jackson added: “You know the code. Talk about the code all series at this point.”
Poole said he is “not even that type of player” to try to intentionally hurt someone. He and Andrew Wiggins trapped Morant near half court before Wiggins was called for a foul with 6:55 left. Morant would sub out with 6:19 left and the Warriors up by 17 before walking back to the locker room.
“It was a basketball play when we doubled him,” Poole said. “And I hit the ball, and I was going for the ball. I mean, obviously, you don’t want to see anybody get hurt. I’m not even that type of player. I respect everybody.”
Poole added: “Hopefully he gets better and, you know, we can see him out there next game. I don’t even play like that for real. That’s not my type game.”
Jackson’s comment, and Morant’s tweet, was in reference to Golden State coach Steve Kerr saying Memphis forward Dillon Brooks “broke the code” when he hit Gary Payton II in the head in midair during a dunk attempt in Game 2, a play that resulted in Payton fracturing his elbow. Brooks was given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected. He later was suspended for Game 3 upon further review by the league.
“He’s getting evaluated now,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of Morant. “Nothing further. We just watched the replay. He was going after a dribble and Jordan Poole actually grabbed his knee and yanked it, which kind of triggered whatever happened, so I’m actually going to be very curious to see what happens after that.”
Pressed about whether he thought Poole’s grab was intentional, Jenkins said, “I don’t know what goes through you guys’ head. No, I didn’t say that it went on purpose. I said the play happened.
“There was a grab. I’m just curious what happened.”
Morant continued his sensational play during this series before limping off the court. He had 34 points, 7 assists and 3 steals in 36 minutes. That followed his 47-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist performance in Memphis’ Game 2 victory, after which he said he couldn’t completely see out of his left eye after being hit there during the second half. Morant scored the team’s final 15 points in Game 2.
He had 34 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in Game 1.
“It is unfortunate,” said teammate Desmond Bane, who has been battling a back issue during the series. “Ja is obviously having a great series. For something like that to happen, something that is somewhat controllable, Jordan Poole reached out and grabbed his knee and kind of put him in an awkward position, you know, it’s unfortunate.”
Golden State guard Klay Thompson rebutted any notion that Poole or any Warrior was trying to injure Morant or anybody else.
“Me personally, I’ve been through a tough knee injury,” Thompson said. “And I don’t think there’s any malicious intent from Jordan. I don’t even think he’s [Poole] strong enough to affect somebody’s knee. But we’re not out there trying to hurt people or trying to club people in the back of the head on a fast break. We play the game the right way, and I’m going to have his back.”
Grizzlies point guard De’Anthony Melton said Morant has shaken off injuries before and hopes the star will be ready to play in Game 4 on Monday.
“I mean, we have seen Ja heal like Wolverine out there,” Melton said. “He can be limping one day, next day be fine. He is a warrior and a competitor. Who knows where his level of injury is at? He understands his body and what the team needs, and he will make the best decision.”