Ja Morant will sit out the Grizzlies’ matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 24, 2025, because of a cold-related absence.  Memphis Medical declared Morant unable to play because of cold symptoms. While not critical the team faces a significant challenge because of Morant’s absence. The Grizzlies require significant changes to their roster because of their star player’s absence.

The Memphis Grizzlies owe much of their current success to Morant’s contributions throughout this season. You only need to review his stats from their recent Hornets game. His game lasted 31 minutes and he scored 16 points shooting at a 55.6% field goal rate. The point guard had a performance that included two made three-pointers from five attempts, four rebounds, and thirteen assists. Memphis won with a 132-120 final score thanks to Morant applying his versatile skill set. Since Morant won’t play they must rebuild their plan for the Pelicans.

Their team suffers a major blow because of his absence. The statistics indicate he has averaged 21.1 points together with 7.7 assists per game since his return. The 30.7% three-point shooting form Morant isn’t great but his driving ability combined with his team-passing skills make up for some of those missed shots. Memphis will certainly feel an impact from being without Morant during this upcoming game.

Can Memphis Handle the Pelicans Without Morant?

So, what now? Other guys need to step up. Desmond Bane, for one, has been on fire lately. He’ll have to carry a bigger scoring load with Morant out. In the win against Charlotte, Bane put up 24 points, grabbed two rebounds, and dished out eight assists. If he can keep playing like that, the Grizzlies might just make it through this one without their point guard.

Jackson Jr. and Kawamura must produce at their highest level. Defensively Jackson is doing great work while Yuki Kawamura’s rebounding ability should prove invaluable. With continued strong performance as well as defensive commitment from both teams Memphis will keep itself competitive with the Pelicans.

They present a difficult challenge to the Pelicans although they may overcome the severity of the defeat. The Pelicans earned their latest victory following an overtime battle against Utah Jazz by a 123-119 scoreline during which CJ McCollum scored 45 points. New Orleans faces major challenges as Zion Williamson has an illness keeping him out while Brandon Ingram recuperates from injuries to his ankle. Despite several key absent players, the Pelicans maintain their strong team composition. Without the presence of Morant Memphis needs to demonstrate disciplined toughball tactics to stay competitive with their opponents.

Luckily, Morant’s cold doesn’t seem like it will keep him out for long. It’s a short-term issue, and he should be back on the court soon. But for now, Memphis will have to get by without him.

The competition will test Memphis heavily but the team contains players who can match up against their opponents. Bane has provided outstanding performance alongside Jackson and Yuki while Morant recovers from his injury. The team has the potential to win if they hearken to defensive plays and support one another throughout the court. Although they face a difficult task ahead the Grizzlies possess enough team strength to achieve victory.