Memphis guard Ja Morant suffered a left ankle injury on Friday and will miss at least a week. Brandon Dill/Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant has a sprained left ankle that will keep him out at least a week and possibly longer.
Memphis announced Saturday that Morant suffered a Grade 1 sprain during Friday night’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Team officials said in a statement that Morant’s return timeline will be week-to-week with updates provided as appropriate.
Morant left the 121-110 win late after scoring 19 points and having 11 assists. Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game that Morant “tweaked” his ankle with further evaluation of the severity on Saturday.
The Grizzlies visit Brooklyn on Sunday night.
Memphis just got forward Jaren Jackson Jr. back this week from surgery in June on a stress fracture in his right foot, and the Grizzlies announced Tuesday that guard Desmond Bane sprained his right big toe and will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks. after being hurt in a win over Minnesota on Nov. 11.
Morant ranks ninth in the NBA averaging 28.6 points a game with Bane ranked 15th at the time of his injury averaging 24.7 points. Bane also is shooting 45.1% from three this season and ranks sixth with 46 made 3s.
BUCKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo argued with an arena worker and flung a ladder away from a basket, sending it toppling over as he tried to shoot practice free throws after the Bucks’ 110-102 loss to Philadelphia on Friday night.
After going 4 for 15 from the line, Antetokounmpo returned to the Wells Fargo Center floor several minutes after the game to shoot free throws with a small number of fans still in the building.
Antetokounmpo proceeded to miss his first five foul shots in the postgame practice. During a break in the two-time NBA MVP’s shooting, arena workers moved onto the court for their usual postgame activities.
One of the workers set up a 12-foot ladder next to the basket where Antetokounmpo was shooting. Antetokounmpo walked up to the ladder and moved it out of the way.
The employee moved it back in place. Antetokounmpo then approached the staffer, had a quick, exchange, and then shoved the ladder away, sending it crashing to the floor.
“I never try to disrespect anyone, in any way shape or form,” Antetokounmpo told reporters afterward. “I feel like today was just unfortunate event that took place.”
CAVALIERS: Kevin Love could miss some games after sustaining a hairline fracture to his right thumb in Friday’s double-overtime win against the Charlotte Hornets.
The five-time All-Star got hurt in the third quarter. Love scored six points and had seven rebounds in 24 minutes for Cleveland, which blew a late lead before winning 132-122 in double overtime.
The Cavs said X-rays taken Saturday confirmed the fracture. Love is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s home game against Miami, and it’s likely the 34-year-old could miss several games to give the thumb time to heal.
NETS: Kyrie Irving could return from his suspension and play for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday after apologizing for hurting the Jewish community when he posted a link to a film with antisemitic material.
The Nets listed Irving as questionable for the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on their injury report Saturday. He has missed the last eight games.
The team suspended the point guard for a minimum of five games without pay on Nov. 3 after he refused to say he had no antisemitic beliefs when he was questioned about his since-deleted post on his Twitter page.
Irving told SNY on Saturday: “I just want to apologize deeply for all my actions throughout the time that it’s been since the post was first put up. I’ve had a lot of time to think. But my focus, initially, if I could do it over, would be to heal and repair a lot of my close relationships with my Jewish relatives, brothers and sisters.”
76ERS: Guard Tyrese Maxey will miss at least two weeks after breaking his left foot Friday night.
Maxey had 24 points, five assists and four rebounds before he was injured just before halftime of the 76ers’ win over Milwaukee. Maxey stepped on the foot of Bucks guard Jevon Carter late in the second quarter and he left the building in a walking boot.
Maxey walked into the locker room Saturday before Philadelphia’s game against Minnesota wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
“I’m great, life’s great,” Maxey said as he ate popcorn at his locker. “Still alive, so I’m happy.”
SATURDAY’S GAMES
HAWKS 124, RAPTORS 122: Trae Young threw a long pass to hit A.J. Griffin for a wide-open layup at the overtime buzzer and Atlanta, after rallying late in regulation, beat undermanned Toronto in Atlanta.
Young had 29 points and 10 assists, De’Andre Hunter added 21 points and Clint Capela had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks.
Young hit a pair of free throws with 59 seconds to go in regulation, giving the Hawks their first lead since midway through the third quarter.
The Raptors led 108-101 with 2:36 to go in the fourth quarter. The Hawks went on a 10-run in a 90-second span to take a 111-109 lead on Young’s two free throws with 59 seconds to go.
PACERS 114, MAGIC 113: Aaron Nesmith made two free throws with 9.6 seconds left and Indiana came up with a final defensive stop to beat Orlando in Indianapolis to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again Monday night in Indianapolis.
In the last seconds, the Magic’s Franz Wagner drove to the basket, but his layup attempt was long off the backboard and Mo Bamba was unable to tip in the rebound.
Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and 14 assists for the Pacers. They have won four straight to improve to 9-6.
TIMBERWOLVES 112, 76ERS 109: Anthony Edwards scored 25 points, D’Angelo Russell had 19 and visiting Minnesota survived a late scare and won its third straight game, over undermanned Philadelphia.
The 76ers have already played without James Harden for two weeks because of a right foot tendon strain and they added starting guard Tyrese Maxey to the injury list with a broken left foot suffered Friday.
Both players averaged 20-plus points on the season, and their losses left Joel Embiid to carry the load among a lineup that in one stretch included him, Danuel House Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Shake Milton and Georges Niang.
Embiid had 32 points and nine rebounds. Milton had 27 points and Melton 19.
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