Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks after sustaining a grade two left hamstring strain, USA Today reported. The injury occurred during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, leaving the Blazers without their two-time All-Star for a minimum of one month.
The injury happened in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 124-103 loss to Memphis. According to the team, imaging confirmed the grade two strain, and Morant is scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Morant exits against former Memphis Grizzlies
Morant played 23 minutes in his first game since being traded from Memphis to Portland in the offseason. He recorded 14 points, two rebounds, and three assists on 6-of-14 shooting before leaving the floor with 7:46 remaining in the game. Before the game began, Morant scored on Coward and pointed at him, declaring, “That n**** food.”
Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant sustained a left hamstring injury during last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Imaging revealed a grade two left hamstring strain.Morant will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/Pbn8OmB2Bi
Blazers head coach Micah Nori told reporters that Morant felt a “twinge” on the court. Nori stated he attempted to take a foul to facilitate Morant’s exit from the game.
The Grizzlies capitalized on the second half, outscoring Portland 66-45 to secure the win. Memphis rookie Cam Boozer recorded his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Isaiah Stewart added 18 points in 16 minutes. The victory improved the Grizzlies’ record to 5-0.
Ja Morant has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury.He finishes with:14 PTS2 REB3 AST42% FG pic.twitter.com/DuAdnZSXqe
Did you know? Morant’s departure contributed to Portland’s first loss of the 2026-27 season, moving the team to a 3-1 record.
Rotation shifts for Portland backcourt
The Blazers will now rely on their remaining backcourt depth, which is led by franchise icon Damian Lillard. Lillard struggled in the loss to Memphis, scoring nine points on 3-of-13 shooting in 30 minutes. Deni Avdija led Portland’s offense with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, though the team shot 24% from three-point range, making only 12-of-49 attempts.
🚨 Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/zm3Sh0GlNv
The absence creates a vacancy in the rotation that may impact Scoot Henderson. Henderson has averaged 18.8 minutes over the first four games of the season. General Manager Joe Cronin previously described Henderson as a “high-variance player” during media day, citing inconsistency as a complication in extension talks.
Henderson previously showed potential in his first postseason, averaging 15 points on 60% true shooting. He scored 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting in Game 2 of a first-round series against the Spurs, the Blazers’ first playoff win since 2021. However, he averaged 2.5 points in his final two postseason games.
| Morant’s Season Stats (4 Games) | Value |
|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 15.8 – 16.3* |
| Assists Per Game | 5.5 – 6.3* |
| Field Goal Percentage | 54.2% |
He also shot 42.9% from 3-point range through four games.
NBA injury surge in opening month
Morant is one of many high-profile players sidelined in the first month of the season. USA Today listed several other significant injuries, including Ben Simmons (torn Achilles), Brandon Ingram (partial Achilles tear), and Paolo Banchero (high ankle sprain). Other injured players include Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, Ben Sheppard, Jaren Jackson Jr, Ariel Hukporti, Max Strus, and Jalen Duren.
Portland Trail Blazers' Ja Morant has sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will miss at least four weeks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/1XHMXZkTSX
Common questions about Ja Morant’s status
When will Ja Morant be re-evaluated?
The Portland Trail Blazers stated that Morant will be re-evaluated in four weeks following his grade two left hamstring strain.
How did the injury happen?
The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies after Morant felt a “twinge” on the floor, according to Coach Micah Nori.
Who is filling the void in the Blazers lineup?
The team will lean on Damian Lillard and potentially increase the role of Scoot Henderson, who has seen his minutes decrease to 18.8 per game this season.
The Blazers begin a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, but it remains unclear how the team will adjust its starting rotation in Morant’s absence.
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