Grizzlies at Jazz
The Memphis Grizzlies have lost twice in the last 16 games – to the only two NBA teams who are hotter than them with one month left in the season. Memphis ends a four-game road trip when it faces the Utah Jazz on Saturday, one night after becoming the 11th consecutive foe to fall to the Denver Nuggets. The Grizzlies’ only other loss during their torrid stretch came against the Miami Heat, who have recorded 21 consecutive victories.
Utah has lost eight of 10 games and has slid to ninth in the Western Conference, one game out of a playoff spot behind the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jazz are 23-8 at home and typically fare well at home against the Grizzlies, despite suffering a 99-86 loss to Memphis on Dec. 15 that snapped a nine-game home winning streak in the series. The Grizzlies are battling the Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers for the third seed and Friday’s loss snapped a six-game winning streak. “We understand where the standings are at,” point guard Mike Conley said afterwards. “But we still have (18) games left and anything can happen from there.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis), ROOT (Utah), NBATV
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (44-20): Memphis shot just 35.3 percent in the loss to Denver with all five starters shooting less than 50 percent. Power forward Zach Randolph had 18 points and 18 rebounds and the poor shooting allowed him to corral 10 offensive boards. Randolph is averaging 16.7 points and 12 rebounds in three games since returning from an ankle injury. He is averaging 20.5 points and 17 rebounds in two games against the Jazz this season and has career marks of 19.3 points and 9.5 rebounds in 30 career contests against Utah.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (33-32): Forward Paul Millsap struggled in his first game back from a knee injury that sidelined him two games with just seven points on 1-of-5 shooting in the loss to Oklahoma City. Millsap also dealt with an ankle injury prior to the knee ailment and has played in just four of Utah’s last eight games. Center Al Jefferson also has been off his game, failing to reach double digits in two of the past four outings. Jefferson missed three games with an ankle injury earlier this month.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Jazz are 26-7 at home against the Grizzlies.
2. Conley had just three assists and committed seven turnovers against the Nuggets. He averaged 11.3 assists over the previous four games.
3. Utah reserve Gordon Hayward has scored 20 or more points in four of the last 10 games.