Memphis backcourt hit again as Morant exits early; Pacers lose Nesmith for a month; Celtics lean into youth overhaul
grizzlies-morant-nesmith-injury-celtics-youth
Multiple clubs are juggling new injury concerns and roster changes after a busy Saturday around the NBA.
Grizzlies
Ja Morant returned from a recent ankle problem but played just six minutes of Memphis’ road game in Cleveland before leaving with soreness in his right calf. The guard had logged seven points and two assists when he jogged gingerly through the Grizzlies’ final first-quarter possession and headed straight to the bench. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters he does not know exactly when the issue occurred, and the team expects Morant to undergo additional tests, including an MRI, once it gets back to Memphis.
The backcourt was already thin. Vince Williams Jr. sprained an ankle in the first half yet managed to return, while Ty Jerome (calf) has not appeared this season and Scotty Pippen Jr. is still recovering from toe surgery.
The night did bring one bright spot: 7-foot-4 rookie center Zach Edey made his season debut after June ankle surgery, supplying 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in nearly 25 minutes. Iisalo praised a new oversized alignment featuring Edey and fellow rookie wing Cedric Coward, citing its added length, defense and physicality.
Pacers
Indiana initially believed it had avoided serious trouble with Aaron Nesmith’s left knee, but head coach Rick Carlisle clarified Saturday that the forward is expected to miss roughly four weeks with a sprain. Nesmith was hurt when he landed on teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s foot, causing his knee to buckle. He is averaging a career-high 15.5 points for a 1-12 team already dealing with several absences.
Carlisle added that guard Bennedict Mathurin, sidelined by a toe sprain after scoring 36 and 26 points in his first two outings, is nearing a return. Indiana’s 1-12 opening marks the worst record for any club coming off an NBA Finals appearance since Milwaukee started 3-13 in 1974-75.
Celtics
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said he is embracing “the fulfillment of building something new” after a summer reshuffle driven by second-apron restrictions and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. The reigning champions are 6-7 with four rotation players from last season’s title run gone and a collection of youngsters—Josh Minott, Jordan Walsh and rookie Hugo Gonzalez among them—trying to secure roles.
“We haven’t played perfect,” Mazzulla acknowledged, “but there’s been a care factor—guys wanting to get every detail right, understand their role and execute it every night.”
Source: Hoops Wire
