Pelicans at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies look to finish off a four-game season sweep of New
Orleans when they host the Pelicans on Friday. Memphis resides in
fifth place in the Western Conference but is battling injury issues,
including the season-ending loss of center Marc Gasol (foot).
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (foot) could miss his third straight game, power forward Zach Randolph (knee) is questionable after missing Wednesday's 116-96 road loss to the Boston Celtics, and Memphis also lost backup point guard Mario Chalmers (Achilles' tendon) for the season during the Boston contest. "When it rains it pours," small forward Matt Barnes told reporters. "To lose this many guys to injury, back-to-back-to-back, once we finally started to get a rhythm with our new guys, it's a crazy situation." New Orleans had lost five of its last six games after falling 122-113 to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. All-Star power forward Anthony Davis (40) and point guard Jrue Holiday (career-best 38) combined for 78 points but the duo couldn't overcome the defense allowing 71 first-half points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (24-39): Holiday was 13-of-23 shooting and made five 3-point baskets in the top scoring effort of his seven-year career and he is averaging 26.7 points over the past three games. Injuries that have decimated the backcourt - starters Tyreke Evans (knee) and Eric Gordon (finger) are out for the season - have led to Holiday being more of a shoot-first player than he typically has been in his career. Davis had 32 double-doubles and the 40-point outing was his third of the season but his season-long trend of big outings aren't leading to victories.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (38-26): Chalmers was injured on a noncontact play and the club waived him Thursday after learning the severity of the injury to open up a roster spot. "He has been an important part of our success this season, both coming off the bench and when called upon as a starter," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "But with Mario’s season-ending injury and our already depleted roster, it became necessary to free up a roster spot." Chalmers was acquired from the Miami Heat earlier this season and averaged 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 55 games for the Grizzlies.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis is averaging 20.3 points and shooting just 42.6 percent from the field against the Grizzlies this season.
2. New Orleans backup G Norris Cole (back) missed the Charlotte game, prompting the Pelicans to sign D-League G Orlando Johnson.
3. Memphis F JaMychal Green tied his personal best of 17 points and collected a career-high 13 rebounds in the loss to Boston.