Grizzlies' Isaiah Stewart ‘Avoided Anything Major’ With Knee Injury

A day after Isaiah Stewart left the Memphis Grizzlies’ 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers with a right knee injury, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said Thursday that Memphis was still waiting on further evaluation.

“Luckily, looks like he avoided anything major,” Iisalo said. “We’re still looking for further evaluation, but he’s able to walk around pretty normally today, so that’s good news.”

Memphis has ruled Stewart out of Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Stewart did not play after halftime Wednesday. His 9:43 in the first half produced 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting, 1 rebound, and 2 fouls. Memphis listed him as doubtful to return after the break, and he did not return.

“No, there’s no further info,” Iisalo said.

Quinten Post came into Wednesday listed as questionable. He had missed two games with a sprained right ankle, an injury from the Oct. 29 win at Portland, and played 11 minutes against Indiana with 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal.

With Post out for an Oct. 31 win over Sacramento and a 135-134 overtime loss to New Orleans on Nov. 2, Stewart was the lone backup center behind Zach Edey. Edey fouled out of the New Orleans game with 2:33 left in overtime.

On Oct. 29 in Portland, Stewart scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and made two 3-pointers in a 124-103 win. Two nights later, he scored a season-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting in a 136-105 win over the Sacramento Kings. That win made Memphis 6-0, matching the best start in franchise history.

Iisalo had told him going in that this season would be the most he had ever done offensively, Stewart said afterward in an interview with Rob Fischer.

“This is really the first time in my career I have a coach that’s pushing me to be something on that end of the floor,” Stewart said. “[Iisalo] told me this would be the most I do offensively. He’s just putting that battery pack in my back.”

He had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks Monday in the overtime loss to New Orleans. 

Stewart has averaged 11.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game to begin his 2026-27 campaign.

On June 24, Detroit traded him to Memphis during the second round for three future second-round picks (2029, 2031, and 2032).

They were the same three picks the Pistons gave the Grizzlies the night before to move from No. 21 to No. 17.

Stewart, 25, spent his first six seasons in Detroit. He earns $15 million, with a same-value Grizzlies team option for 2027-28, exercisable by June 29, 2027.

Scotty Pippen Jr. is out against the Thunder while recovering from a lumbar disc herniation. Friday’s game at FedExForum starts at 7 p.m. CT.

Memphis is 6-2. Monday’s game in Toronto tips off at 6:30 p.m. CT; Denver visits FedExForum on Wednesday.