No Ja Morant, no problem for surging Grizzlies

and others
• 2 min read
Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies)

The Memphis Grizzlies have surprised the NBA world by winning their last four games without star point guard Ja Morant. 

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Morant sustained a sprained knee against the Atlanta Hawks, and since then the Grizzlies have reeled off wins against Sacramento, Toronto, Oklahoma City and now Dallas on Sunday (AEDT).

The win against the Mavericks also marked the first time in 25 years that an NBA team was able to record a streak of four or more consecutive wire-to-wire wins, defined by Elias Sports as wins in which the team never trailed and the score was never tied after 0-0.


The last time Morant was injured for an extended period of time the team lost four of its next five games. Now, at 13-10 on the season following the win against the Mavs, the Grizzlies are keeping themselves in the playoff picture - very important given the parity in the Western Conference - until they can get their star player back. Against Dallas, Desmond Bane stepped into the playmaker role and had a career-best night, finishing with 29 points and nine rebounds. 


Morant is expected back in a "couple of weeks" according to coach Taylor Jenkins.

"He's been responding really well to the treatments, the lift sessions that he's had and we're sprinkling in just small doses of on-court work just to make sure his knee's moving and seeing how he's responding day to day," Jenkins said.


Prior to his injury Morant had been producing All-Star form, averaging 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.8 aasists for the season. 

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