Ja Morant

2022 - 5 - 7

Post cover — Image courtesy of "CBSSports.com"

Jordan Poole definitely grabbed and yanked Ja Morant's knee ... (CBSSports.com)

After Dillon Brooks was suspended for Game 3, the Grizzlies might ask the league to take a look at punishing Poole.

Earlier in the game, Desmond Bane lost the ball and in an effort to keep Poole from recovering it, he dove head first straight into Poole's knees. He took a wild swing in an attempt to stop an opponent from scoring, not to hurt the guy. In the end, it doesn't matter whether Poole's knee grab is actually what hurt Morant's knee, or potentially aggravated a previous injury, or even if Morant turns out to be free of injury, which we'll all hope is the case. It only matters what Poole did and the potential it had to hurt an opposing player. Just because what Poole did was more subtle than what Brooks did to Payton doesn't mean it was no big deal. Ja Morant limped off the court with apparent right knee discomfort at the 6:19 mark of the fourth quarter and didn't return, and the Grizzlies are pretty adamant that Jordan Poole is to blame for Morant's potential injury. He saw a guy going in for a dunk and he wanted to stop him from doing it. So here's the deal: It's not BS. You can't watch that video and arrive at any conclusion other than Poole definitely grabbed hold of Morant's knee and pulled it backward. Of course, everyone with the Warriors is laughing off the idea that what Poole did may be considered a dirty play. Morant found himself double-teamed near half-court by Poole and Andrew Wiggins. Poole knocked the ball loose, and as Morant and Wiggins scrambled for possession, Poole pretty clearly grabbed Morant's right knee and pulled it backward. He took that risk when he decided to swing near a guy's head. Morant quickly deleted the tweet, but the Grizzlies' feelings on this Poole play are clear.

Ja Morant Injury Reignites Conversation On 'The Code' (Sports Illustrated)

The testy Warriors-Grizzlies series has brought players' unwritten rules about fouls to the forefront of the series.

“I hit the ball, and I was going for the ball. “No one’s out here dirty,” said the Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. “No one’s out here like that. “Broke the code,” Morant tweeted moments after he limped to the bus. The Grizzlies came to Brooks’ defense in the aftermath. But the Grizzlies had plenty to say about the cause of the injury – specifically calling out Warriors guard Jordan Poole for grabbing Morant’s knee during a scramble for the ball with 6:55 left in the game. In Game 2, it was Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks who earned the flagrant-2 and an ejection, for launching into an airborne Gary Payton II, clocking him in the head and sending him crashing to the deck.

Jordan Poole defends himself against Ja Morant injury insinuation (NBC Sports Bay Area)

Jordan Poole defended the "basketball play" that appeared to result in an injury to Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant.

For real, that's not my type of game." I hit the ball and I was going for the ball and obviously, you don't want to see anybody get hurt. I'm not even that type of player.

Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant exits Game 3 with injury vs Golden ... (The Commercial Appeal)

Ja Morant left Game 3 during the fourth quarter after limping off the court. He did not return.

Morant limped to the Memphis Grizzlies bench with 6:19 remaining. Want to stay informed on the latest Memphis sports news? Warriors coach Steve Kerr said postgame he "didn't notice the play" in question.

Jordan Poole denies intentionally injuring Ja Morant's knee after ... (ESPN)

Ja Morant limped off the court in the fourth quarter of Game 3 after Warriors guard Jordan Poole grabbed the Grizzlies point guard's knee.

"And I hit the ball and I was going for the ball. We play the game the right way and I'm going to have his back." He was going after a dribble and Jordan Poole actually grabbed his knee and yanked it, which kind of triggered whatever happened, so I'm actually going to be very curious to see what happens after that." He is a warrior and a competitor. "It is unfortunate," said teammate Desmond Bane, who has been battling a back issue during the series. "And I don't think there's any malicious intent from Jordan. I don't even think he's [Poole] strong enough to affect somebody's knee. When pressed about whether he thought Poole's grab was intentional, Jenkins said, "I don't know what goes through you guys' head. "He's getting evaluated now," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of Morant. "Nothing further. Poole added: "Hopefully he gets better and, you know, we can see him out there next game. That's not my type game." Morant would sub out with 6:19 left and the Warriors up by 17 before later walking back to the locker room. He and Andrew Wiggins trapped Morant near half court before Wiggins was called for a foul with 6:55 left.

Ja Morant injury update: Will Grizzlies star play in Game 4 after ... (Sporting News)

The Memphis Grizzlies have more to worry about than their 30-point loss to the Warriors in Game 3 on Saturday night. Ja Morant exited the game late in the ...

The Grizzlies will likely need to lean on their defense in the event Morant can't go. Morant missed 25 games during the regular season with the Grizzlies posting a 20-5 record. Post-game Warriors guard Jordan Poole was asked about the incident. "I was going for the ball, obviously I don't wanna see anybody get hurt. he appeared visibly agitated before the Grizzlies' medical team led him back to the locker room for further examination. I don't even play like that."