The Portland Trail Blazers have suffered a major blow, as Ja Morant has sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

Morant suffered the injury during Thursday’s 124–103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, his former team. He exited in the fourth quarter and did not return, finishing with 14 points, two rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. Further evaluation revealed a more serious injury than initially hoped.

The 27-year-old guard had made an encouraging start to his time in Portland, helping the Trail Blazers open the season with three straight wins. Through his first four games, Morant averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 assists per game, giving Portland an explosive playmaker who can create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Losing him for at least a month is a significant setback for a team that had started the season with plenty of momentum. Morant’s speed, ball-handling and ability to attack the basket bring a different dimension to the offense, and Portland will need other players to step up while he recovers.

The Trail Blazers will likely rely more heavily on their remaining guards to handle playmaking duties during his absence. However, replacing Morant’s explosiveness and offensive creativity will be a difficult task.

Hamstring injuries can be tricky, especially for players who depend on quick acceleration and sudden changes of direction. Portland will have to be careful with Morant’s recovery rather than rushing him back before he is ready.

Morant is expected to miss at least four weeks, with his recovery timeline depending on how the injury responds to treatment. For Portland, the priority now is finding a way to stay competitive until one of its biggest stars can return.