Trail Blazers at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are off to a demoralizing start and aim to halt a
four-game losing streak when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on
Friday. Memphis' skid began with a 115-96 road loss to the Trail Blazers
on Nov. 5, when Portland guard Damian Lillard made a season-high seven
3-pointers while scoring 27 points.
The Trail Blazers are also struggling with three consecutive losses after dropping a 113-101 decision to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Lillard made five 3-pointers while scoring 22 points and has scored 20 or more points in all nine of Portland's games. Memphis suffered a 100-84 home loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday for its third double-digit defeat during the four-game skid. "I thought we battled," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said afterward. "I thought we believed we could win. I still believe we can win, and we will down the line if we keep playing this hard."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (4-5): Shooting guard Gerald Henderson made his Portland debut on Wednesday and scored 12 points in 18 minutes. Henderson was acquired from the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason deal for forward Nicolas Batum and he underwent hip surgery in July. He will be asked to provide scoring pop off the bench as C.J. McCollum seized the opportunity and is now entrenched as the starting shooting guard after averaging 20.9 points through nine games.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (3-6): Memphis shot just 34.3 from the field and committed 21 turnovers in the sloppy performance against the Warriors. The Grizzlies have already lost five games by double digits and rumors have begun to swirl that Joerger's job security could diminish if the team doesn't turn it around soon. The offense has been a huge problem in that the 84 points against Golden State is only the squad's fourth-lowest output in nine games - Memphis has scored under 80 three times, including a season-worst effort in a 119-69 loss to Golden State on Nov. 2.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers have dropped their last four visits to Memphis.
2. Grizzlies PG Mike Conley was 1-of-12 shooting against Golden State and is 17-of-60 over the last four games.
3. Portland PF Meyers Leonard dislocated his left shoulder in the third quarter of Wednesday's game and the length of his absence hasn't yet been determined.