Grizzlies at Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are vying to secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and the visiting Memphis Grizzlies are attempting to land the No. 3 seed in the West. The Lakers enter Friday’s contest with a half-game lead over the Utah Jazz and they leave Los Angeles just once over the final seven games. The Grizzlies have won four straight games and are a half-game behind the third-place Denver Nuggets.
The Grizzlies are 2-0 against the Lakers this season but this is the first meeting in Los Angeles. Memphis recorded an 18-point victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday and is winning by an average of 10.5 points during the winning streak. Los Angeles has won back-to-back games after routing the Dallas Mavericks by 20 points on Tuesday. The Lakers could get Steve Nash back from a hamstring injury after the veteran point guard sat out against the Mavericks.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (51-24): Point guard Mike Conley has been a solid scoring threat with seven 20-point outings over the last 10 games. Conley is averaging 20.2 points during the stretch and is 18-of-28 over the past two games. Conley has just 11 assists over the last three contests. He scored 19 points in each of the victories over Los Angeles while shooting 60.7 percent from the field. Conley is averaging a career-best 14.5 points and also has made 100 3-pointers for the first time in his career. His total stands at 101.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (39-36): Guard Kobe Bryant has been a virtual iron man over the past two games while averaging 21 points, 12.5 assists and 10 rebounds. Bryant sat out just 56 seconds against Dallas after playing all but 23 seconds of the previous contest against Sacramento. Bryant may get a little bit more rest Friday with a Sunday afternoon game against the Los Angeles Clippers looming, but he is taking an all-out mentality with the team’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance. “We have a tougher schedule but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bryant said. “If you want to get to the playoffs and expect to make some noise, you have to beat playoff teams and that includes Memphis and the Clippers.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis has won the season series against Los Angeles for just the third time.
2. Lakers C Dwight Howard has 14 consecutive double-doubles and 21 straight double-digit outings on the boards.
3. Grizzlies F Zach Randolph recorded double-doubles in each of this season’s games against Los Angeles while averaging 14.5 points and 11 rebounds.