Ja Morant Doubtful for Postseason, Warriors Sizable Favorites in Game 5
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.
Update: Ja Morant's been ruled doubtful for the remainder of the postseason, moving the Grizzlies from as short as 2-point home underdogs in Game 5 against the Warriors to a consensus price of +3.5.
The betting line hit +4.5 before settling back down at most shops.
The total, meanwhile, dropped from a peak of 220.5 to as low as 218.5.
The Golden State Warriors were already sizable favorites for Monday's Game 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies with Ja Morant in the fold. With the star guard likely to miss Monday's contest, betting odds required a touch-up.
Following the news, Golden State moved from nine-point chalk to as high as -10.5 at BetMGM. The total, meanwhile, dipped from 226 to as low as 223.5, also at MGM.
It's a massive blow for a team on the brink of going down 3-1.
Morant, who's scored at least 34 points in all three Round 2 games, limped off the court late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 142-112 drubbing.
The third-year point guard rattled off 27.4 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 boards per game during the regular season en route to winning the league's Most Improved Player Award.
Through nine playoff contests, Morant is averaging 27.1 points and a whopping 9.8 assists. He went off for 47 points in the Game 2 win, which stands as Memphis' only victory in the series.
It's yet another hurdle for the Grizzlies, who played without Dillon Brooks in Game 3. Brooks, who posted a pair of 20-plus-point outings in the opening round, was suspended after a foul on Gary Payton II in the previous tilt.
Memphis was the best bet in basketball during the regular season and their current 63.3% cover rate's still pacing the league.
However, Memphis has quietly struggled catching points away from home, going 0-4-1 over its past five games as a road 'dog in the postseason.
Monday's Game 4 tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
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