Latest injury news from the Memphis Grizzlies on Ja Morant and Marcus Smart

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

This story has been updated

LOS ANGELES – One of the Memphis Grizzlies’ three injured starters is nearing his return.

Wing Marcus Smart participated fully in practice on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers (9 p.m. CT, ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network). Smart has missed the last six games with a right ankle sprain.

Smart is listed as questionable on the injury report.

“We’ll see how he wakes up tomorrow,” coach Taylor Jenkins said.

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane are the other two starters missing against the Lakers (6-4). Jenkins described Morant and Bane as both still going “week to week.”

“The hip is still kind of getting some pressure off, but (Morant) is making a lot of progress as well,” Jenkins said.

Bane, who has missed the last six games with an oblique injury, has had more contact sessions as the Grizzlies begin to prepare him for a return.

Anthony Davis returns to the Lakers

The Grizzlies (7-4) defeated the Lakers on November 6th, but LA’s big star Anthony Davis was unavailable. Davis was caught in the eye during a recent Lakers win, but he told reporters on Tuesday that he should be ready to go against Memphis.

Davis’ return sets the stage for a star-studded battle against Jaren Jackson Jr. In his last two games, Jackson scored 39 points against the Washington Wizards on November 8th and led Memphis with 20 points in another win against the Portland Trailblazers on November 8th November. 10.

Knowing Davis will play on Wednesday gives the Grizzlies more time to prepare for the matchup, but it’s not the first time they expect Davis to be available this season.

“I thought he was going to play the last game, so it’s the same preparation,” Jackson said.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

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