Morant sidelined again, the Grizzlies reshuffle their lineup. A key return boosts depth, but injuries continue to disrupt Memphis's rotation.
The Memphis Grizzlies will again be without their franchise guard as they take the floor Tuesday night, with injuries continuing to dictate availability and rotation decisions. Ja Morant has been officially ruled out against the San Antonio Spurs due to a right calf contusion, marking his second consecutive missed game.
Morant had been downgraded to doubtful earlier in the day after initially being listed as questionable, signaling a cautious approach from the organization as it manages another calf-related issue for its star.
Morant first appeared to injure the calf during Memphis’ Jan. 2 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, though he finished that contest while clearly limited. He recorded 16 points and 11 assists in that game, gutting it out despite being visibly hobbled. The Grizzlies opted to hold him out of Sunday’s rematch with the Lakers, and that absence now extends into Tuesday.
The situation carries added context given Morant’s recent history. He previously suffered a Grade 1 right calf strain on Nov. 15 against Cleveland, an injury that sidelined him for 10 games before he returned on Dec. 12. In total, Morant has now missed 17 games this season. He has appeared in 18 contests, averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists, and has yet to face San Antonio this season after missing the first two matchups between the teams.
While Morant remains out, Memphis did receive a positive update elsewhere. Vince Williams Jr. is available to play after being upgraded following an eight-game absence due to left patellar tendinitis. Williams’ return provides a needed boost to a wing rotation that has been under significant strain, particularly with Memphis frequently relying on emergency ball-handling and defensive versatility from nontraditional lineups.
Another absence, however, remains unchanged. Rookie wing Cedric Coward will miss his second game of the season after being ruled out with a left ankle sprain. Coward was injured in the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Lakers and did not return, cutting short one of his most productive stretches of the season. His absence continues to thin a rotation already navigating multiple overlapping injuries.
Also unavailable is Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who remains out due to a two-way transfer designation.
The cumulative effect leaves the Grizzlies once again reshaping their rotation around who is healthy rather than who ideally fits. Morant’s absence removes the team’s primary offensive organizer and late-game creator, while Coward’s injury subtracts a high-minute contributor on the wing. Williams’ return helps offset some of that loss, but it does not fully solve the continuity issues Memphis has battled throughout the season.
As the Grizzlies continue a stretch heavy on home games, the priority remains stabilizing health rather than chasing short-term lineup chemistry. For now, Morant’s status looms largest, with Memphis again forced to navigate a game without its most dynamic piece.