After a successful four-game road trip, the Grizzlies are back in the Volunteer State for the next four games at home. And the first team they are welcoming to the FedExForum is their Western rivals, the Timberwolves, who bring a strong squad to town. Now, this is a matchup the Grizz won’t take lightly, but to make the most of it, they’ll need their scoring leader, Ja Morant, on the floor. However, after his absence in the last game, the question is whether he will be lacing up for today.

Monday already holds a special significance for the nation as Americans honor Martin Luther King Jr. While many businesses choose to remain closed to pay tribute to the civil rights icon, the NBA keeps its doors open. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a tribute to the great man. The league already displayed its official MLK Day merch on Sunday night. The same will follow on Monday when the Timberwolves will face the Grizzlies. But will the clash have the same intensity if Ja Morant isn’t on the court? Without further ado, let’s find out what the franchise has decided regarding the young guard’s status.

Will Ja Morant suit up for Grizzlies vs Timberwolves matchup?

There’s a big question mark surrounding Ja Morant’s availability, as the Grizzlies have yet to finalize their decision. For now, he’s listed as questionable. The battle against Anthony Edwards and his formidable T’Wolves army could be challenging for the third-seeded Western Conference team but the Grizzlies aren’t willing to risk Morant’s health.

The 25-year-old is dealing with right foot soreness, which kept him out of the second game of the back-to-back against the Spurs on Friday. Initially, the team listed Morant as questionable before ultimately ruling him out for that game.

Morant’s history with injuries is well known. In his more than five seasons in the NBA, the two-time All-Star has never played 70 games in a season due to various injuries. So far this season, Morant has missed 18 games due to shoulder, thigh, hip, knee, and back injuries. During that stretch, the Grizzlies have managed an 11-7 record. On the flip side, when Morant is in the lineup, the team has maintained a solid 16-8 record, with him averaging 21.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.

Before making the final call on Morant’s status, the franchise will closely monitor his condition. However, for the rest of the squad, the decision has already been made.

Grizzlies injury report for Monday’s clash

According to reports, the franchise has ruled out the other players who are on the injury list with Morant. Their two-way players Yuki Kawamura and Zyon Pullin are not being called up for the game, so they will be playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.

Apart from them, Marcus Smart is on the injury report with his dislocated right index finger. Smart sustained the injury during the second week of this month in a game against the Mavericks. The injury occurred in a rather unfortunate manner, as the combo guard noticed the awkward positioning of his finger when he went to celebrate one of his 3-pointers in the third quarter. The 30-year-old is not yet ready to return to the hardwood.

Next on the list is Cam Spencer, who is recovering from right thumb surgery. The Grizzlies have announced that it will take him three weeks before being re-evaluated. Since that timeline hasn’t yet passed, the team will continue to monitor his progress. Meanwhile, Vince Williams Jr. remains sidelined as he hasn’t fully recovered from a Grade 3 right ankle sprain. Vince picked up the injury against the Nuggets in mid-November and has not played since.

The two teams have only met once this season, just a couple of days ago, with the Grizzlies coming out on top. The Grizzlies are sitting comfortably with a 27-15 record, looking a lot more consistent than the Timberwolves, who are 22-20 and still trying to find their groove in the 8th spot in the West. But that doesn’t mean the T’Wolves won’t put up a tough fight.

With a guy like Anthony Edwards on their team, it wouldn’t take much for them to flip the script. If Ja Morant is back though the Grizzlies will definitely have the edge. So, keep an eye out at 2:30 PM ET to see how this Western showdown goes.