Pistons at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies could not extend their winning streak with a depleted roster last time out and look to get back to their quest for a Western Conference playoff spot when they host the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Leading scorer Jaren Jackson Jr. missed Friday’s 139-111 loss at New Orleans due to a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation in the previous contest and four others sat out for the Grizzlies, who are eighth in the West.
Jackson (17.7 points), who scored 29 in the 125-112 win at Detroit on Jan. 24, and Marko Guduric (4.3) should be back in the lineup Monday after suspensions when Memphis goes for its 19th victory in 28 games. “We can do better guarding one-on-one regardless of who we have out there,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters after his team allowed 53.7 percent shooting from the field Friday. “Give (New Orleans credit). They played with great force. You know, we’re excited to have those guys back for the next game.” The Pistons were in dire need of a spark to ignite a run that could get them back into playoff position in the Eastern Conference and may have got one Sunday afternoon as they rallied from an early 21-point deficit to knock off Denver 128-123 in overtime, ending a five-game losing streak. Seven players scored in double figures for Detroit, but leading scorer Derrick Rose left Sunday’s contest with a groin injury that put a halt to his 14-game streak of scoring at least 20 points.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Detroit, FS Southeast
ABOUT THE PISTONS (18-33): Guard Reggie Jackson came off the bench to score 20 points Sunday and is averaging 17.2 in six contests since returning from a back injury that robbed him of 42 games. Center Andre Drummond poured in 21 points and the league’s leading rebounder (15.7) had 17 boards Sunday for his third straight double-double and league-best 40th of the season. Second-year pro Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added 13 points in the win over Denver and has reached double figures in 16 of the last 18 contests for Detroit, which sits four games behind Orlando for eighth place in the East.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (24-25): Rookie point guard Ja Morant (17.5 points, team-high 7.1 assists) scored 16 on Friday and has shot at least 53 percent from the field in four of the last five games, but had just three assists - his lowest total since Dec. 26. Shooting guard Dillon Brooks was held to 10 points by New Orleans after averaging 24.5 points over his previous four contests while versatile Jae Crowder totaled 33 points in his last two games to boost his season mark to 10.1. Rookie forward Brandon Clarke (12.2 points) is questionable after being held out of Friday’s contest due to left hip soreness.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis SF Kyle Anderson poured in a season-high 14 points with six rebounds and three assists in Friday’s setback with G Grayson Allen (hip) and F Bruno Caboclo (knee) out.
2. Detroit rookie SF Sekou Doumbouya scored 17 points Sunday after managing 27 combined the previous seven games.
3. Pistons veteran guard Tony Snell was 3-for-5 from 3-point range Sunday to reach 600 makes from behind the arc in his career (601).