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Grizzlies
The Grizzlies can’t catch a break in the backcourt.
Ja Morant returned from an ankle issue on Saturday in Cleveland… only to exit six minutes later with soreness in his right calf, as relayed by Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
He scored seven points with two assists before jogging gingerly through Memphis’ final possession and heading straight to the bench.
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo said he isn’t sure when the injury occurred, via Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com.
Morant will undergo further testing and likely an MRI once the team is back home.
Vince Williams Jr. sprained an ankle of his own in the first half but managed to return, as noted by Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian.
The timing isn’t ideal. Ty Jerome still hasn’t played this season because of a calf strain, and Scotty Pippen Jr. remains out following toe surgery.
There was at least one positive: Zach Edey finally made his season debut after ankle surgery in June.
The 7-foot-4 center logged nearly 25 minutes, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
“I’ve been waiting all season,” Edey said, via Grind City Media.
Iisalo added that he liked what he saw from the new jumbo lineup with Edey and rookie wing Cedric Coward, calling it a look that adds length, defense and physicality.
Pacers
What looked like a short-term scare turned into a longer absence for Aaron Nesmith.
After initially saying the Pacers “dodged a bullet,” Rick Carlisle clarified Saturday that Nesmith is expected to miss about four weeks with a sprained left knee, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.
The injury occurred when Nesmith came down on teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s foot and his left knee buckled.
He’s averaging a career-best 15.5 points for an injury-ravaged 1-12 Pacers team, though his shooting numbers have dipped with the increased load.
Carlisle did offer one encouraging update: Bennedict Mathurin is “getting close” to returning from a toe sprain.
Mathurin scored 36 and 26 points in his first two games before being sidelined.
Indiana’s 1-12 start is the worst for any team coming off a Finals appearance since the 1974-75 Bucks.
Celtics
Coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t exactly sign up for a youth movement, but he’s embracing what he calls the “fulfillment” of building something new, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe writes.
Boston is 6-7 after an offseason overhaul triggered by second-apron rules and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear.
Four rotation players from the 2024 title run are gone, replaced by a group of young pieces trying to prove they belong.
Josh Minott, Jordan Walsh and rookie Hugo Gonzalez have provided flashes, and Mazzulla said the team has adopted the competitive edge he demands.
“We haven’t played perfect,” Mazzulla said. “But there’s been a care factor… guys wanting to get every detail right, understand their role and execute it every night.”
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