The Portland Trail Blazers have suffered a major setback just four games into the 2026-27 NBA season. Ja Morant has sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will miss at least four weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for Portland, which opened the season with a 3-1 record and had plenty of momentum surrounding its new-look roster. Morant was injured Thursday night against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, in what became Portland’s first loss of the season.
Morant suffered injury against his former team
Morant left Thursday’s 124-103 loss to Memphis in the fourth quarter after appearing to grab at his left hamstring. He exited with 7:46 remaining and finished the night with 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes.
The Trail Blazers announced Friday that imaging revealed the Grade 2 strain and that Morant will be re-evaluated in four weeks. That means the guard is expected to miss at least the next month, although his eventual return will depend on how the hamstring responds during rehabilitation.
Morant had gotten off to a strong start in his first season with Portland, averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds through the team’s first four games. He was also shooting 54.2% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.
Portland must adjust without Morant
The timing of the injury makes the blow even more significant. Portland had won its first three games before falling to Memphis, and Morant was expected to be an important part of a backcourt that also features Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.
With Morant sidelined, Holiday and Henderson are among the players expected to take on larger roles. Holiday could move into the starting lineup alongside Lillard, while Henderson should see additional opportunities in the rotation.
Portland will now have to find a way to maintain its early-season momentum without one of its biggest additions. The Trail Blazers had entered the season with considerable expectations surrounding the combination of Morant and Lillard, but that pairing will now be put on hold.
After starting 3-0, Portland is suddenly dealing with its first major injury of the season. Morant’s four-week reevaluation provides a general timeline, but the Trail Blazers will undoubtedly be hoping the guard can return as soon as he is fully healthy.
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