Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart is set to be sidelined for six weeks with a ‘severe right ring finger injury’ in another injury blow to to Memphis following Ja Morant’s end-of-season shoulder surgery.
Thursday’s update from The Athletic’s Shams Charania means that the 29-year-old, three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team nominee won’t return before mid-to-late February.
Smart hurt his finger in the Grizzlies’ 120-103 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, but it didn’t prevent him from knocking down a 3-pointer before leaving the basketball court at American Airlines Center.
Smart hit the shot from long rang to extend Memphis’ lead to 80-62 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
He then celebrated by raising his injured hand in the air and holding up three fingers.
Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart suffered a ‘severer right finger injury’ against Dallas on Tuesday
The 29-year-old showed his dislocated ring finger after making a 3-pointer in the third quarter
He only noticed his crooked ring finger on his right hand when he brought it down while getting back on defense.
Smart then looked toward the Grizzlies bench, as he appeared to tell the medical staff that his finger was dislocated. Prior to his exit, Smart had 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting along with four rebounds and two steals.
The 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 assists and 2.7 bounds in 20 games this season, following his trade from the Boston Celtics this past offseason.
What’s more is, that Smart’s injury came a day after the Grizzlies announced that Morant has a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which he sustained in practice last Saturday.
Smart’s injury will be a crucial blow to the injury after Ja Morant’s been ruled out for the season
An MRI confirmed the injury on Monday.
The Grizzlies (14-23) will take on the L.A. Clippers at home on Friday before a showdown with the New York Knicks just a night later.
Memphis lies as the 13th seed in the Western Conference, with just three more wins above the Portland Trail Blazers (10-26). The Spurs (6-30) are the conference’s last seed.
The Grizzlies likely will lean on Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard and even Derrick Rose in Smart’s absence.
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