Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant likely out Game 4, coach Taylor Jenkins says

SAN FRANCISCO — Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant is likely to miss Game 4 on Monday with a knee injury, head coach Taylor Jenkins said on Sunday.

«He's got further evaluation going on,» Jenkins said on Sunday. «But from what I have been told, there is probably a really good chance he doesn't play tomorrow.»

The Grizzlies did not immediately detail the exact nature of Morant's knee injury. But the Grizzlies believe it was caused by a play in which Jordan Poole grabbed Morant's knee while going for a basketball on a trap near halfcourt in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

The NBA will not take any disciplinary action on Poole, a source told ESPN. Jenkins said Memphis executive vice president of basketball operations/general manager Zach Kleiman had been in touch with the league concerning the play.

«Just trying to be matter of fact here,» Jenkins said when asked about what he thought about the play after further review. «This is what Ja says, this is what our medical team has said after reviewing the play. Ja was playing great, feeling great all game and the grab of the knee is what triggered the potential injury and why we took Ja out of the game.

»Nothing has changed from there in terms of that was the play that triggered this."

Morant left Chase Center on Saturday night without talking to reporters. But he initially tweeted «broke the code,» with video of Poole grabbing his knee on the fourth-quarter play, before later deleting the tweet.

Morant could be seen walking with a limp toward the team bus following Memphis' 142-112 loss.

Poole said he was not trying to intentionally hurt Morant. He and Andrew Wiggins trapped Morant near half court before Wiggins was called for a foul with 6:55 left in the game. Morant