With everything on the line and the postseason hanging by a thread, the Memphis Grizzlies just couldn’t catch a break. Ja Morant, their electric star, went down during their Play-In game against the Warriors. And you could almost hear every Grizzlies fan holding their breath in unison for further updates on the injury. However, amid the worry, a sideline update from Allie LaForce gave some hope. But what she revealed made Shaquille O’Neal make a bold prediction for the next game in the play-in tournament.

If you missed the action, here’s what happened: Morant went up for a jumper and came down awkwardly, tweaking his right leg. The fall happened in the third quarter, with Memphis barely ahead at 82-80. He stayed on the floor for a moment, then made his way to the bench—but, interestingly enough, not the locker room. And just when it felt like the game might slip away without him, he limped back in for the fourth quarter, still pushing through the pain.

That’s where LaForce’s courtside report came into the picture. Speaking on NBA on TNT, she shed light on Morant’s mindset and the reality of his physical condition. “This is a team that knows how to play without Ja Morant… Last season he missed 73 games. He missed 32 games this season. And he even told me today at shootaround that his body hasn’t been 100 percent. He’s still working into that. So he knows how to play through the injury as well,” she said.

LaForce added that while things looked shaky at first—especially since Morant struggled to put any pressure on the leg—he never went in for treatment or ice. He just kept it moving. “… When he got back in the game, it still looked pretty uncomfortable, but then by the end of the game, he was moving really well,” she explained on the show. According to her, the team’s PR staff is holding off on any X-rays. The plan is simple: wait till morning and see how he feels. Not exactly reassuring, but not doom-and-gloom either. Now here comes the Shaquille O’Neal moment.

While fans and analysts had been waiting for updates, the 4x NBA champ already sees the writing on the wall. “The next game he wants to play, he will play. He’s a dog. Four words: Icy-Hot man up,” he declared. So there it is. A hobbled but hungry Ja Morant, a confident Shaq prediction, and a Grizzlies squad still alive in the Play-In. Guess we’ll just have to see if “dog” mode kicks in when it matters most, or will the Grizzlies have to manage without their star player?

Ja Morant opens up on his injury update

As the Grizzlies gear up to face the loser of Wednesday’s clash between the Kings and the Mavericks, one question has fans holding their breath—what’s really going on with Ja Morant? Memphis fans can feel hopeful with the 18-14 record without him this season, but let’s be honest: their playoff hopes ride a lot higher with Morant on the floor.

Thankfully, the Grizzlies guard didn’t leave fans guessing for too long. Speaking to the media, he offered a brief yet clear update on his status. “I’m playing,” Morant said. “That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.”

But just him being there won’t be enough, as it wasn’t the explosive performance many expected in Tuesday’s game. Yes, he managed 22 points but shot just 9-of-18 from the field. To cut it short, he looked out of rhythm. Now, with a do-or-die game on Friday, Memphis needs their star not just suited up, but firing on all cylinders. As Shaquille O’Neal said, “Icy-Hot man up!”