Trail Blazers at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have experienced little trouble against
fourth-seeded Portland this season and look to continue their dominance
when they host the Trail Blazers in Sunday’s Game 1 of the Western
Conference playoff series. Fifth-seeded Memphis won all four
regular-season meetings this season – two by double digits – and has won
nine of the past 11 matchups.
Portland struggled down the stretch, dropping its last four games, and hopes to have small forward Nicolas Batum (knee) back in the lineup while shooting guard Arron Afflalo (shoulder) will miss the opener. Memphis also expects to have a key cog back in point guard Mike Conley (foot) and perhaps defensive stalwart Tony Allen (hamstring) while forward Jeff Green (back) is questionable. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was bothered by an ankle injury late in the regular season but is now close to full health. Last season, Portland advanced to the second round for the first time since 1999-2000 before losing to San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals while Memphis lost to Oklahoma City in the first round.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, KGW (Portland), SportSouth (Memphis)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (51-31): Star guard Damian Lillard is healthy and he doesn’t want to engage in any excuse-making over injuries. “Anytime you go on a losing streak, people are going to have negative things to say. ‘Oh they’re hurt. They don’t have everybody. They’re not 100 percent,’” Lillard told reporters. “We’re professionals. Everybody is on this team for a reason and we’re going to have to depend on guys to step up.” Lillard and All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge typically carry the load and will have to pick up even more of it with the injuries.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (55-27): Getting Conley back is good fortune due to the matchup with Lillard while Allen is one of the top defensive players in the NBA. Power forward Zach Randolph will see a lot of Aldridge in the series and he is expecting a tough battle with Portland. “It’s not going to be easy. Home court is home court, but it’s not home court unless you make it home court,” Randolph told reporters. “If (the Trail Blazers) come in and get a game, it’s not home court. We’ve got to come out and play our game.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Portland has dropped its last four games in Memphis.
2. Lillard led the NBA with 447 fourth-quarter points.
3. The Grizzlies are 24-4 when shooting 40 percent or better from 3-point range.