Ja Morant Active Despite Ankle Soreness vs Heat

Ja Morant, who sprained his left ankle in the preseason and scored 35 points in the season opener, was initially listed as questionable but was later announced active for Friday’s 8 p.m. ET game against the Miami Heat. Kentavious Caldwell‑Pope was also listed as available. Several other Grizzlies remain out or sidelined—reports list Scotty Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. among those missing time—testing Memphis’s depth. Morant’s recurring lower‑body problems, plus recent shoulder and other injuries, have produced inconsistent availability over the past two seasons. With a loaded Western Conference and multiple teammates sidelined, Memphis will lean on Morant while managing his health to sustain a playoff push.