The news just keeps getting worse for Memphis, as they have now lost Marcus Smart for the next six weeks.
“Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart has sustained a severe right ring finger injury and will be sidelined for approximately six weeks, sources tell
@TheAthletic@Stadium. Another difficult injury blow in season for the Grizzlies,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday.
The team described the injury as a rupture of the proximal interphalangeal joint central slip.
The guard left the game in the third quarter after he made a three and saw that his finger was out of place when he went to celebrate the made shot.
Following the play, he went back to the locker room and he was ruled out for the rest of the game.
“It just felt funny and looked funny,” Smart said after the game, via ESPN. “So I’m just like, let’s get this checked out. Better safe than sorry. Nothing’s broken, but we’ll see what they say.”
Before the injury, Smart scored 23 points on 9-16 shooting for the Grizz, who ended up beating the Mavs 120-103 – who had won three straight before then.
The game was the first Memphis played without superstar Ja Morant, who will remain out for the rest of the season.
Morant underwent a successful surgery on Thursday to repair a labrum tear in his right shoulder.
As for Smart, he is averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 assists, while making a massive impact on defense with 2.1 steals per game.
The 29-year-old was sidelined for 17 games after sustaining a foot sprain earlier in the season.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. didn’t play in Memphis’ win over Dallas due to a knee contusion, but without Smart, the Grizzlies will need his return to the court to be imminent.
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