There will be a little bit of star energy lacking from the matchup on Sunday between the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Nonetheless, the sport will characteristic loads of juice when the highest two groups within the Western Convention sq. off in Oklahoma Metropolis. That is the primary of 4 conferences this season between the golf equipment.
The Thunder have gained 10 consecutive video games, whereas the Grizzlies have gained back-to-back video games and 14 of their previous 17 to tuck into second place within the convention.
Memphis might be with out Ja Morant, who suffered an AC joint sprain in his proper shoulder on Friday in a win over New Orleans when he collided with Pelicans’ middle Daniel Theis on a display screen.
Morant is averaging 21.2 factors and seven.9 assists in 20 video games after lacking all however 9 video games final season resulting from a suspension after which a labral tear in his proper shoulder.
The harm comes at a crucial time for the Grizzlies, who’re 8-4 with out Morant this season.
Sunday kicks off a stretch throughout which Memphis will play 9 of its subsequent 11 video games in opposition to groups that sit within the high 10 of the Western Convention standings heading into motion on Sunday.
The conflict between the Grizzlies and Thunder options the highest groups within the league in drives per recreation.
Memphis’ league-leading 59.7 per recreation is fueled by Morant, whereas Oklahoma Metropolis’s 58.7 is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 21.4 per recreation — tops within the NBA.
On Sunday, the Grizzlies might be trying to enhance their inside safety, an space during which they struggled at time on Friday of their 132-124 victory in opposition to the Pelicans.
“We obtained slightly uncovered on the rim with some fouls,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated.
If the Grizzlies are plagued with the identical subject in opposition to the Thunder, it figures to be rather more tough to flee with a win.
Oklahoma Metropolis has been with out second-year middle Chet Holmgren since early November and in addition have been with out Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace in Saturday’s 106-94 win in Charlotte.
Caruso suffered a hip pressure Monday in a 123-105 win over the Washington Wizards whereas Dort (proper ankle sprain) and Wallace (quad contusion) have been damage Thursday because the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 120-114.
“Each workforce goes by powerful stretches, however that does not make it straightforward,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “The blokes have had no excuses. We have endured some accidents and clearly quite a lot of journey and hard video games, and guys simply maintain exhibiting up and maintain punching.”
Sunday’s recreation is the primary of a five-game homestand for Oklahoma Metropolis. The Thunder have not performed back-to-back residence video games since mid-November.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s successful streak is its longest since January 2014 and inside two video games of the longest streak for the reason that franchise moved to Oklahoma Metropolis for the 2008-09 season. Their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks within the NBA Cup title recreation doesn’t depend within the standings or for the needs of the win streak.
The Thunder-Grizzlies matchup initially seemed to be a conflict between two of the highest level guards within the NBA, however at the least Gilgeous-Alexander is predicted to be on the ground.
He’s averaging 32.6 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists through the win streak. Averaging 30.8 factors per recreation on the season, Gilgeous-Alexander trails solely Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.7) within the quest for the league scoring title.
–Area Stage Media
