Ja Morant just can’t seem to catch a break in the postseason. And this time, the sting might run even deeper—because if Charles Barkley’s take is anything to go by, the person he’s pointing fingers at is wearing the same jersey. This isn’t an opposing player’s hard foul or an awkward landing; it’s a teammate’s well-intentioned pass that inadvertently led to Morant’s painful exit, a cruel irony that adds another layer of frustration to the Grizzlies’ playoff woes.

If you happened to miss the game, here’s the big moment. During Thursday night’s playoff clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Morant took a nasty spill under the basket late in the first half. It wasn’t just a minor tumble either. With just over three minutes to go in the second quarter, he hit the floor hard and didn’t return for the rest of the night. As the third quarter kicked off, Ja was still missing from the bench, and Memphis officially ruled him out. Luke Kennard had to step in. But the one to send him out? Also, a Grizzlies star? Well, Charles Barkley certainly thinks so.

Barkley didn’t mince words when watching the replay on NBA on TNT. “I hate to say this, but that was Pippen’s [Jr.] fault… He should have laid that ball in,” he said bluntly while breaking down the footage. Well, Scotty Pippen Jr., despite having a clear path to the basket, dished out a no-look pass to Morant. Morant went for a highlight-reel dunk over Luguentz Dort—and ended up crashing to the floor, resulting in a left hip contusion. So, Barkley is not being unfair in his analysis of the play.

Let’s not forget how it cost the Grizzlies. With Morant out, Memphis’s grip on the game loosened fast. What was once a 29-point lead turned into a heartbreaking 114-108 loss, giving the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round series. Morant’s absence exposed a vulnerability in the team as their offensive engine and emotional leader.

Postgame, interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said Morant was set for further evaluation on Friday: “and then we’ll know more.” As for how Morant’s absence impacted the rest of the night? Iisalo didn’t sugarcoat it: “I would say quite drastically from the end result. But not only the energy, but also the execution.” And Chuck believes Pippen Jr. could have changed the unfortunate turn of events.

Scottie Pippen Jr. and more from the Grizzlies open up on Ja Morant’s injury

After what looked like a sure win slipped right through their fingers, the Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t help but reflect on the real turning point—Ja Morant’s injury. And if you were watching the game, you likely felt it too. The energy shifted, the offense looked less certain, and despite a strong push from others, the spark just wasn’t the same.

Now, giving credit where it’s due—Scottie Pippen Jr. rose to the challenge. He dropped 28 points, snagged 5 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and grabbed 3 steals, shooting an impressive 8-of-16 overall and knocking down 6 of his 10 three-point attempts. Still, even with those numbers, the Thunder’s rally back into the game felt like a wave the Grizzlies just couldn’t stop.

“He’s the head of the snake,” Pippen Jr. himself admitted about Morant. “When you lose someone like that, it definitely alters and shifts the whole team.” Santi Aldama didn’t sugarcoat things either. “Obviously, it’s always tougher when you don’t have somebody like Ja. He’s our best player,” he said. “Not really an excuse or reason, you just gotta win the game regardless…” 

And that’s the truth—no matter how tough the loss, the expectation to win doesn’t go away. But the bigger question is, would it be right to point fingers at Pippen Jr. and launch an attack on his confidence in doing so? Or we can simply agree that unfortunate injuries born out of human error are a part of the game and just hope that Ja Morant makes a return by the next game.