NBA news: Markieff Morris, a Miami Heat forward, returns to action after a four-month layoff.
Following a four-month layoff due to a whiplash injury. Miami Heat Forward Markieff Morris was cleared to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. In 17 minutes of play, he ended with six points and four rebounds.
Morris got hurt in a fight with Denver’s Nikola Jokic on Nov. 8. He was suspended for 58 games. Morris had been working with the squad “for a long time, and he’s ready”. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game.
Spoelstra remarked, “We’re all excited about it, and I’m excited for him”. “It’s been a long process that’s gone longer than everyone expected. But these are things you can’t always control.”
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Morris’ case was considered by the NBA‘s Fitness-to-Play Panel this week. Which consists of three physicians who evaluate if a player is “medically able and medically fit to practice and play”. As defined by the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
The brawl occurred late in the game on Nov. 8, shortly after the Heat were enraged by the lack of a call when they believed Jokic fouled Miami center Bam Adebayo. He brought the game to a halt a few seconds later by purposefully colliding with Jokic from the side, a flagrant foul according to the officials.
NBA news: Morris wasn’t initially thought to be seriously injured
He was then blindsided by Jokic’s powerful shove from behind. Heat players were enraged at what they saw as a cheap shot by Jokic, who later admitted that it was “a stupid play.”
For the shove, Jokic received a one-game suspension. Morris, who signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal with Miami this offseason, was fined $50,000 for his role in the altercation.
Morris played 10.7 minutes a game off the bench for Miami this season, averaging 7.7 points and 18.7 minutes per game. He has averaged 11 points per game in six seasons with six different teams. Including a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, which he won against Miami.
On Saturday, the Miami Heat forward made his first appearance since November 8, playing 17 minutes and scoring six points. In a close fourth quarter, he played a few minutes for the Heat. They eventually lost 113-104 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Morris had been waiting a long time after suffering whiplash in a collision with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Morris fouled Jokic severely, only for Jokic to charge at him with his back turned as he walked away, injuring him.
Let’s just say that fans and both players’ siblings disagreed over who was to blame.
In the event that Morris, who had been practising and striving to play. Sustained another neck injury, the tribunal absolved Miami of blame.
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