Monday night, the Memphis Grizzlies snapped their losing streak at two games with an impressive triumph against the Toronto Raptors.
Though certainly an all-around feel-good affair, with guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. continuing their excellent brand of production, as has been the case throughout the 2023-24 season, the team still found a way to come out of the contest a bit banged up.
About mid-way through the third period, starting forward Santi Aldama exited the game after seemingly colliding knees with Raptors star, Scottie Barnes, following a fadeaway shot attempt.
Constituted as "Right Knee Soreness" by Memphis' PR team, following the outing coach Taylor Jenkins provided some insight into the status of their big man moving forward.
Taylor Jenkins gives insight on injury of Grizzlies big Santi Aldama
"Just some knee soreness. I think it was a bang-bang play in front of out bench. After evaluation [the medical team] just said 'hey, let's just give him the rest of the game and we'll evaluate him more tomorrow.'"Taylor Jenkins
Aldama has struggled with health-related ailments throughout this first half of the season, even missing the first six games due to a nagging right ankle sprain.
When healthy, however, he has played a significant role within coach Jenkins' rotation, especially due to the slew of injuries that have impacted a large portion of the Grizzlies' core players over their 43-game stretch thus far.
drop that junt off. @droddy22 x @santialdama https://t.co/BlXmIXRxvV pic.twitter.com/5UmurvtoCi
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 19, 2024
Used as a highly versatile offensive big, in 33 contests Aldama finds himself posting career-best averages of 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and just shy of a block in 23.2 minutes per game.
Moving forward, the hope is that him being pulled from Monday's game was largely due to the medical staff being over precautious and that he'll be ready to suit up for the team's upcoming matchup against the Miami Heat this Wednesday.