Injured Adams may not return in regular season
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Thursday morning that Steven Adams will be re-evaluated in four weeks after undergoing a stem cell injection on Wednesday while recovering from a PCL sprain in his right knee.
Adams has been sidelined since he was hurt near the end of the game on Jan. 22 against the Phoenix Suns.
A four-week timeline lines up with the end of regular season. The Grizzlies (38-26) will play their final regular season game on April 9, and Adams’ reevaluation should come near that game.
The Grizzlies initially announced that Adams would be sidelined threeto-five weeks, but this was the sixth week since his injury.
Before the Grizzlies’ recent fourgame road trip, coach Taylor Jenkins said Adams had been doing five-on-five basketball activity, which is an indication that a player is close to returning. Jenkins added that Memphis was hoping to get Adams back during the road trip, but the center had to pass a few medical tests.
The loss of Adams is significant and adds to what has been a brutal stretch for the Grizzlies. Brandon Clarke is out for the season (torn Achilles), Ja Morant is away from the team for at least the next four games and Dillon Brooks would receive a one-game suspension for every two technical fouls he collects for the rest of the regular season. Brooks was suspended for Sunday’s loss against the Clippers.
Adams is one of the NBA’S best rebounders, and he serves as an anchor on the defensive end. Without Adams and Clarke, Xavier Tillman Sr. will get the bulk of the minutes at center, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama rotating over in stretches. Memphis has a 10-12 record when Adams is not in the lineup.