Ja Morant injury update: ‘Dirty play’ by Lu Dort? Draymond Green takes a swipe

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a left hip injury during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday

Published on: Apr 25, 2025, 10:28:04 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a left hip injury during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The Grizzlies were up 27 points when the 25-year-old was taken off the court. They eventually lost the game. Draymond Green and several fans pointed out ‘dirty play’, blaming OKC's Lu Dort for Morant's injury.

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after falling to the court during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder (Getty Images via AFP)

The incident took place occurred in the second quarter and led to Morant exiting the game after missing both free throws and heading to the locker room in visible pain. He was ruled out for the remainder of Game 3, finishing with 15 points, five assists, and one rebound in 16 minutes. The Grizzlies star underwent further testing, with results pending, and his status for Game 4 remains uncertain. RotoWire reported that Luke Kennard and Scotty Pippen Jr. are expected to see increased minutes in his absence.

Soon, fans started blaming Dort. “Lu Dort has to be dirtiest player in the NBA 😒” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Grizzlies were up almost 30 with a chance to swing momentum into tying the series Saturday. instead lu dort ends ja morants season on a wreckless play,” a second one added.

@WillGuillory noted Jaren Jackson Jr confronting Dort post-play, while @MrBuckBuckNBA highlighted Morant’s frustration, stripping off his jersey as he left. However, others, like @YourManDevine and @MichaelOnSports, argued there was no intent, as Dort was attempting to recover from a slip and contest the ball. The officials reviewed the play and called a common foul, not a flagrant, supporting the view that it was accidental.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green put up a story, saying players need to ‘stop playing dirty’. “I hate these young players get hurt over nonsense.”

While Green did not name Lu Dort, fans speculated that it was a swipe at the OKC guard.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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