NBA: Trail Blazers lose guard Morant for four weeks

LOS ANGELES, United States — Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant will miss the next four weeks of the NBA season due to a left hamstring injury, the team announced on Friday (Saturday, Manila time.) 

The 27-year-old American suffered the injury on Thursday in the fourth quarter of a 124-103 home loss to Memphis, Morant's former club which drafte him second overall in 2019.

Morant emerged as a star with the Grizzlies but was handed a pair of lengthy suspensions and limited to 20 games last season by injuries, prompting his trade to Portland in June.

Imaging revealed a grade two left hamstring strain, and Morant will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the Trail Blazers posted on social media.

Morant, voted the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2022, averaged 22.4 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals during his first seven seasons, all with Memphis.

He helped to Trail Blazers to a 3-1 start this season, averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals a game.