Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Thursday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, NBAPassion reported. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of a 124-103 loss at Moda Center as Morant faced his former team for the first time since joining Portland in the offseason.
Grade 2 Strain Diagnosed After Imaging Confirms Injury
The team announced Friday that medical imaging confirmed the severity of the injury, prompting a four-week recovery timeline before a re-evaluation. ESPN reported that insider Shams Charania first shared the Grade 2 diagnosis. Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori told reporters after Thursday’s contest that the guard had felt a twinge before exiting with 7:46 remaining in the final period while stepping back on defense. Morant finished the night with 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes of action.
Early Season Production and Roster Impact in Portland
The absence halts a productive start for Morant in Portland. Through his first four appearances with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range, helping the team build a 3-1 record. NBAPassion noted that his arrival, alongside the return of Damian Lillard and presence of Jrue Holiday, had initially relegated Scoot Henderson to a reserve role. With Morant sidelined, Henderson and the backcourt rotation face increased minutes. The team is already operating without Shaedon Sharpe, who is sidelined until the spring of 2027 following a summer injury.
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
Historical Injury Context and Previous Absences
The four-week layoff adds to a stretch of interrupted seasons for the two-time All-Star. Morant played just nine games during the 2023-24 season due to a 25-game NBA disciplinary suspension and subsequent injury, appeared in 50 games during the 2024-25 campaign, and played 20 games the following year with Memphis.
