Ja Morant Out Four Weeks as Memphis Faces a Test of Its Momentum

Ja Morant will miss four weeks with a left hamstring strain, NBA.com reports. For a Memphis Grizzlies team whose latest record stands at 5-0 with a five-game winning streak, the absence presents a clear challenge: keep that momentum moving without Morant’s scoring and playmaking.

Morant’s latest season averages show the size of the offensive gap. Across 19 games, he has averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 assists, giving Memphis both a scoring option and a source of opportunities for others. Replacing his production is not simply a matter of finding more shots. The Grizzlies also face the task of generating offense without his passing contributions.

His shooting percentages add an important wrinkle. Morant is shooting 40.5% from the field and 21.0% from three-point range, so those scoring contributions have come with efficiency concerns. Still, those percentages do not erase the significance of 19.2 points per game, particularly when paired with his assist output. His 3.2 rebounds per game represent another contribution Memphis will be without.

The five-game winning streak gives the Grizzlies momentum, but Morant’s four-week absence changes the challenge ahead. The central question is how effectively Memphis can redistribute its offensive responsibilities. Maintaining the winning run will require more than replacing one scoring average; it will test the team’s ability to sustain both scoring and shot creation without him.