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The Portland Trail Blazers announced Friday that Ja Morant has a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will miss at least four weeks before being reevaluated. The injury, suffered Thursday against his former team, is expected to sideline him for at least 15 games, though the team has not given a return date.
The Portland Trail Blazers announced Friday that guard Ja Morant has a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring and will be out for at least four weeks before being reevaluated. Morant injured the hamstring Thursday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, his former team, and left in the fourth quarter without returning.
The team’s initial timetable is at least four weeks before a reevaluation, not a confirmed return date. Based on the schedule cited by ESPN, the absence is expected to cover at least the next 15 games. Portland opens a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
Coach Micah Nori said after Thursday’s game that Morant felt a twinge in his hamstring before leaving. The injury came in the fourth quarter of his first game against Memphis since joining Portland. The team has not provided further detail about the circumstances of the injury or a more specific recovery schedule.
Morant had opened his Portland tenure with 15.8 points and 5.5 assists per game across four appearances, according to ESPN. He scored a season-high 23 points in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Portland was 3-1 entering Friday, and its offense ranked third in the NBA through Thursday, ESPN reported.
How Morant’s Absence Changes Portland’s Backcourt
Morant’s injury removes a major contributor from a Portland team that had started the season with a 3-1 record and a productive offense. His partnership with Damian Lillard was a key part of the club’s new-look backcourt, and his absence will require changes to the rotation while the team continues its early schedule.
ESPN reported that Nori is likely to rely more on backup guards Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. The coach had said earlier in the week that he hoped to limit Lillard’s and Morant’s minutes by using the team’s backcourt depth. Morant’s injury now makes that depth more central to Portland’s plans, though the team has not announced a revised lineup or rotation.
The injury also interrupts Morant’s attempt to build continuity with his new teammates after an offseason trade. A four-week minimum absence, followed by a medical reevaluation, leaves open the possibility that he will miss more time. Portland’s immediate challenge is to manage the schedule without him while awaiting a clearer assessment of his recovery.
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Morant’s First Weeks in Portland
Portland acquired the two-time All-Star in an offseason trade, placing him alongside Lillard in a high-profile guard pairing. Morant was 27 at the time of the report and had appeared in four games for the Trail Blazers before Thursday’s injury. His first meeting with Memphis since the move ended early when he left the game in the fourth quarter.
The injury follows a season in which Morant played in 20 games in 2025-26 because of an elbow sprain, ESPN reported. That history is relevant to the club’s workload and availability concerns, but it does not establish how long this hamstring injury will take to heal. The current team update applies specifically to the Grade 2 strain and calls for a reevaluation after at least four weeks.
Before the injury, Portland had started 3-1, and its offense was ranked No. 3 through Thursday, according to ESPN. Those figures describe the team’s early-season performance only; they do not predict how it will perform during Morant’s absence.
“Morant sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will be out at least four weeks before being reevaluated.”
— Portland Trail Blazers
Return Date Depends on Reevaluation
Portland has not announced a specific date for Morant’s return. The four-week period is the minimum time before reevaluation, and it should not be read as a guarantee that he will be cleared to play immediately afterward. The team has not released further details about his treatment or progress.
It is also unclear how Portland will distribute minutes across its guards during the absence or whether the rotation will change again as the road trip continues. The published expectation that Morant will miss at least 15 games is based on the schedule and the initial timeline; the total could change following his medical reassessment.
Portland Begins a Four-Game Road Trip
The Trail Blazers are scheduled to begin a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. With Morant sidelined, Nori is expected to make greater use of Holiday and Henderson alongside Lillard, although Portland has not confirmed its starting lineup or exact minutes plan.
The next medical milestone identified by the team is Morant’s reevaluation after at least four weeks. Portland’s update at that point should clarify whether he can resume playing or needs additional recovery time. Until then, no firm return date has been announced.
Key Questions
What injury did Ja Morant suffer?
The Trail Blazers said Morant has a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring. He was injured Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies and left in the fourth quarter.
How long will Morant be out?
Portland said he will be out for at least four weeks before being reevaluated. The team has not announced a confirmed return date.
How many games is Morant expected to miss?
ESPN’s report said the initial four-week timeline means Morant is expected to miss at least 15 games. His eventual absence could be longer, depending on the reevaluation.
Who could take on more minutes in Morant’s absence?
ESPN reported that coach Micah Nori is likely to lean more on Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. Portland has not announced a revised rotation.
When is Portland’s next game?
The Trail Blazers begin a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, according to ESPN’s report.
Source: espn.com
