Raptors at Grizzlies
THE STORY: Zach Randolph could return to the lineup for the first time in 2 1/2 months when the Memphis Grizzlies host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The star of last season's surprising playoff run, Randolph has been sidelined since tearing a ligament in his knee on New Year's Day. Memphis has beaten the Raptors six straight times, including a 102-99 victory at Toronto on March 2.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Grizzlies), Sportsnet One (Raptors)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (14-29): Toronto's offense ranks among the worst in the league and will likely continue to dip following the trade of reserve guard Leandro Barbosa to the Indiana Pacers for a second-round draft pick. Barbosa, in the final year of his contract, was third on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game. The Raptors, who have lost three of four and are 1-1 on their season-high five-game road trip, also waived seldom-used point guard Anthony Carter.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (24-17): Memphis is hoping that both Richardson and leading scorer Rudy Gay are back in the lineup Friday. Because of Gay's knee injury in February 2011, the duo has played together in only four of the past 66 games. Gay sat out Wednesday's double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a mild concussion. The Grizzlies also pared their roster Thursday by shipping reserve swingman Sam Young to Philadelphia for the rights to Brazilian forward Ricky Sanchez.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The loss to the Lakers snapped Memphis' six-game home winning streak.
2. Raptors point guard Jerryd Bayless is averaging 17.3 points and 6.7 assists in three starts while subbing for injured Jose Calderon.