MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Grizzlies anticipate the All-Star point guard ha morantwho rejoined the team Monday after serving an eight-game suspension, will play Wednesday night at home against the Houston Rockets.
“We’re hopeful for Wednesday, as long as everything clears up medically,” coach Taylor Jenkins said before Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Memphis opted to keep Morant out of Monday’s game to give him time to increase his conditioning after being out of the team for two weeks. He was unable to exercise during the week and a half he spent at a Florida counseling center after live video was broadcast of himself holding a firearm while appearing to be intoxicated at a Denver-area nightclub at first hour of the morning. hours of March 4. He was suspended eight games for conduct detrimental to the league.
Jenkins said Morant spoke to his Grizzlies teammates and the coaching staff Monday but declined to elaborate on the discussion.
“The reception was great,” said Jenkins, whose team went 5-3 during Morant’s suspension. “Everyone welcomed him with open arms. Excited to have him back.”
Morant, who leads Memphis with 27.1 points and 8.2 assists per game, also did some individual work Monday and struggled with the Grizzlies’ reserves and personnel. He will participate in practice on Tuesday.
“You can’t simulate an NBA game, but you try to do it to the best of your ability,” Jenkins said. “So trying to get as much full-court action as possible, that was the main goal.”
