Ty Jerome Pushes Through Back Injury to Start for Undefeated Grizzlies

Ty Jerome is officially lacing them up. Despite dealing with a back issue, the Memphis Grizzlies point guard has been cleared and will be in the starting lineup for Thursday night's late tip.

If you have followed Jerome's career, you know his medical chart reads like a WebMD symptom checker. From calf strains to thigh issues and ankle sprains, the guy has spent plenty of time in the training room.

"Underdog NBA reported: 'Ty Jerome (back) will start Thursday.'"

Pushing through a bad back is a different level of misery, especially for a guard who has to navigate screens all night. But Memphis needs him on the floor right now, and the training staff clearly feels he is good enough to go.

The Grizzlies are rolling into Thursday with a flawless 4-0 record. Keeping that zero in the loss column is going to take a massive effort against an undefeated 3-0 Portland Trail Blazers squad.

This matchup is pure offensive chaos waiting to happen. The oddsmakers have Portland as a 7.5-point home favorite, and the total is sitting at an absurd 233.5 points.

That number tells you exactly what kind of track meet to expect. If Jerome is dealing with any lingering stiffness, trying to keep pace with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in the Portland backcourt is going to expose it immediately.

Memphis is rolling out a massive frontcourt with Zach Edey, but the perimeter defense is where this game will be decided. Jerome has to be ready to move laterally from the opening tip.

Keep an eye on his early rotation minutes. If Jerome looks a step slow or grabs at his lower back after a hard closeout, the Grizzlies will have to pivot fast to keep their perfect season alive.