Report: Ja Morant to Miss at Least Four Weeks With Hamstring Injury

Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, as reported by Yahoo Sports on Friday. An MRI followed his early exit against the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night.

The injury affects Morant’s left hamstring. He left during the fourth quarter of Portland’s 124–103 home defeat, his first meeting with Memphis since the offseason trade that brought him to the Trail Blazers. He grabbed at the hamstring before going to the bench for medical attention.

Evaluation follows an early exit

Coach Micah Nori initially said Morant felt discomfort and would be evaluated, according to Blazer’s Edge’s postgame reporting. Nori had tried to get him out of the game while Portland was still forcing turnovers and attempting a comeback.

Morant finished with 14 points, two rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. He had scored 12 points before halftime, but the night ended with him receiving treatment on the bench instead of finishing against his former teammates.

The reported four-week absence is a minimum recovery estimate, rather than a confirmed return date. The earlier postgame comments preceded the MRI report and did not establish how long Morant would be sidelined.

Portland’s unbeaten start ends

The Trail Blazers entered Thursday at 3–0. Deni Avdija led them with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Damian Lillard shot 3 of 13. Memphis improved to 5–0 behind Cameron Boozer’s first career triple-double.

Portland was already without reserve center Robert Williams III, who sat because of left knee injury management. Nori said before the game that Williams had soreness and the decision was partly precautionary, with a busier schedule approaching.

The Trail Blazers next visit Utah on Saturday. Morant’s absence removes one of their starting guards as Portland begins a four-game road trip following its first defeat of the season.