Grizzlies at Trail Blazers
Memphis center Marc Gasol is on a tear and he aims to top 20 points for the sixth consecutive game when the Grizzlies begin a six-game road trip by visiting the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Gasol established career bests of 42 points and five 3-pointers in Wednesday's 101-99 over the Toronto Raptors.
Gasol is averaging 30.8 points over the past five games and said he has been looking to shoot the ball more than usual, which is just fine with point guard Mike Conley. "It's been so much fun to watch, so much fun to be a part of," Conley told reporters. "(Wednesday) was something special. It got to the point where everybody was trying to get him the ball, wherever we were on the court." Portland posted back-to-back victories after suffering through a four-game skid and opened a five-game homestand with a 105-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Shooting guard C.J. McCollum is averaging 29.5 points during the consecutive victories and scored 20 or more points in 12 of the past 15 games.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), CSN Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (27-20): Gasol scored the first 16 points for Memphis on Wednesday to set the tone for his strong performance that marked just the 10th output of 40 or more points in club history. Gasol's recent tendency to shoot more is being applauded by first-year coach David Fizdale, who has been angling for this development all season. "This is why I've been pushing him," Fizdale told reporters. "I've really just pushed him to get out of his comfort zone and look to get aggressive about scoring the ball. He is really embracing that role for us. It's not his nature."
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (20-27): Portland has been a disappointing team so far this season and the club is looking at this homestand as a time to build momentum. The 8-18 road mark curbed previous attempts and a victory over the Grizzlies would give the Trail Blazers a season-long three-game winning streak for the third time this season. "I think it's a great opportunity for us," standout point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "I just asked somebody in the locker room, 'When was the last time we won three games in a row?' We had to look at the schedule to see."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Grizzlies prevailed in six of their last eight regular-season visits to Portland.
2. Portland backup PF Ed Davis (wrist) is questionable after missing the past two games.
3. Memphis PF JaMychal Green (knee) and SF Chandler Parsons (knee) both hope to return after one-game absences.