Things have taken a turn and the Memphis Grizzlies are now on a tightrope. After spending most of the season near the top of the Western Conference, they’re struggling to stay in playoff position. The playoffs are close and every game counts and yet their top star Ja Morant is nowhere to be seen.

Four straight games without him. Four games that have felt like a lifetime for Memphis fans. And the result? A 1-3 record, a free fall in the standings, and that No. 2 seed they were holding onto? Gone. Just like that, they’ve slipped all the way to No. 5, with the Los Angeles Clippers creeping up behind them, only three games away from pulling them even further down. Suddenly, what once felt like a surefire top-four finish is looking dangerously close to a fight for survival in the Play-In Tournament.

They’ve got to stop the bleeding—starting with their next game against the Utah Jazz. But the real question is, will Ja Morant be back in time to help them do it?

Ja Morant injury report: What’s the latest?

Bad news, Grizzlies fans—Morant is officially out for this one. The left hamstring strain that’s kept him sidelined all this while has still not healed enough for him to play. And while the team is keeping him listed as day-to-day, they’re not taking any chances. They want their franchise star back at 100% before throwing him into the fire.

And let’s be real: they need him.

Morant was torching Utah this season (24.3 points per game, 7.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds) before going down. He was the engine, the guy to turn tough possessions into easy buckets. Without him? The offense has felt stuck. Everything looks harder. It’s become a grind to score, with Memphis having to fight and claw just to keep games close.

And it’s not just Morant that’s missing. The injury list is piling up. Marvin Bagley III, Brandon Clarke, Zyon Pullin—all out. Even Lamar Stevens, who has been giving them some solid minutes off the bench, is doubtful. When you add it all up, that’s a lot of missing firepower at the worst possible time.

So what now? This is where Memphis’ depth has to be tested. Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson will have to fill the gaps in a big way. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.? They have to be able to bring more of the load. The pressure is sky high. Against a Jazz team looking to get some sort of revenge for past humiliation, it’s going to be a back-breaker for the Grizzlies to take this one.

Can the Grizzlies keep owning the Jazz?

One good thing is that Memphis has owned Utah all season long. No flukes, Three games Three wins. But they beat them 126-124 in the opener, were overwhelming 125-103 in January and have treated them to business — 122-115 — just two weeks later. They’ve got Utah’s number.

But this one’s different.

This time, they’re banged up. They are playing in Salt Lake City this time, and the altitude, it feels like, it’s a minute tougher each time. Finally, Utah is more than ready, they know this is their best shot to finally get one over on Memphis.

Lauri Markkanen is going to be an issue. He’s on a tear and if the Grizzlies don’t contain him early, it could be a long night. That means Jackson Jr. has been locked in on the defensive end. The perimeter guys have to stay disciplined against the shooters of Utah. No room for lazy closeouts, blown assignments.

And then there’s the offense. It cannot afford a slow start. With Morant out, Bane has taken on more ball-handling duties, and while he’s been solid, he’s not the same playmaker. Memphis is at its best when the ball is moving, when they’re playing fast, and when they’re getting good looks in transition. Without Morant orchestrating, those easy buckets have been harder to come by. If they slip into an iso-heavy game, Utah will make them pay.

The Jazz crowd is going to be loud. The energy is going to be high. And Memphis is walking into a must-win game without their best player. This isn’t just about keeping their dominance over Utah alive. This is about proving they can survive without Ja Morant.

The playoffs aren’t going to wait for him to get healthy. The standings aren’t going to pause. If Memphis doesn’t figure things out right now, they risk tumbling even further—and once you fall into that Play-In zone, anything can happen. They’ll get another chance to have Morant back on Thursday against the Thunder, but that’s still up in the air. For now, this game against the Jazz is a straight-up gut check. Can the Grizzlies dig deep and find a way? Or is Utah about to finally get their revenge?

One way or another, we’re about to find out.