The Miami Heat take on a resilient Memphis Grizzlies team on Wednesday night. These two teams met back in December, when the Grizzlies won 101-93 at home.
The latest injury update for Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies are considering the long-term viability of Ja Morant’s injury. In an interview with the Sporting News, he explained that he has been sidelined since March 4 to “work on better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being” and to get professional help.
The Grizzlies announced on Wednesday that Morant would miss at least the team’s next four games due to his absence. According to Wojnarowski and McMahon, the star point guard will miss all four of Memphis’ games this week, and likely more.
However, the Grizzlies have not skipped a beat, as they have won three in a row and are 41-26, good for second place in the Western Conference, 4.5 games behind Denver.
- Read also: Will Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell play on Wed’ game? Injury Report Lakers – Rockets
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Ja Morant | Personal |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 24
|
| Vince Williams Jr. | Shoulder |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 17
|
| Jake LaRavia | Back |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 17
|
| Steven Adams | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 15
|
| Brandon Clarke | Achilles |
Out for the season
|
Since sustaining a shoulder injury on March 3, Vince Williams has been sidelined. His extended absence, however, has had no effect on Memphis’ starting lineup.
On Wednesday, Jake LaRavia will miss his sixth straight game due to injury, but since he is not a regular member of the Memphis rotation, his inactivity has no bearing on team’s power.
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MIAMI HEAT
Due to their recent lack of consistency, the Miami Heat need to put together a winning streak if they are to avoid the play-in tournament and finish in the top six and thus qualify for the playoffs.
Currently, they have a 37-33 record, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, three games back of sixth-place New York. Their 119-115 victory over Utah on Monday night was their fourth straight victory.
In 31 minutes, Jimmy Butler scored 24 points (5-14 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 13-15 FT), grabbed eight boards, dished out four assists, stole four, and blocked two shots.
Butler, 33, has led the Heat in scoring, scoring 20 or more points in five consecutive games and nine of 11 since the All-Star break. He is averaging 26.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 threes per game during that stretch as the Heat try to escape the play-in tournament and secure a playoff berth.
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Cody Zeller | Nose |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 18
|
| Kyle Lowry | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
Cody Zeller’s broken nose from Saturday’s loss to Orlando will force him to miss his second straight game. Omer Yurtseven should step in as the second-string center behind Bam Adebayo while he is out.
Meanwhile, after missing a month of action with a knee injury, Kyle Lowry has returned to action with two consecutive starts. The Heat are being cautious with him after he played 36 minutes on Saturday and only 19 on Monday.
