Thunder at Grizzlies
The Oklahoma City Thunder got two stars back from injury Tuesday night but Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony weren't able to reverse the team's recent losing trend. The Thunder will try to get back into the win column against one of the few teams they've been able to solve lately when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Westbrook and Anthony - who had missed the previous two games with ankle injuries - were two of Oklahoma City's four 20-point scorers in a 120-112 loss to Cleveland at home, the Thunder's sixth loss in the last eight games. "I thought we put ourselves in a position to win the game. Obviously they shot the ball better than we did, made some plays, plays down the stretch," Westbrook told reporters after recording 21 points and 12 assists. The Grizzlies haven't played since their 110-92 loss to the Thunder on Sunday, which was their sixth straight defeat and the fourth game in a row in which they were held below 100 points. Forward Chandler Parsons has missed the last 20 games due to a knee issue but is expected to return for this one.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Oklahoma, FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (32-26): Paul George carried Oklahoma City on Sunday against the Grizzlies with 33 points, and he topped the four 20-point scorers in Tuesday's loss with 25. The five-time All-Star is averaging 29.9 points in seven games this month while making 44.9 percent from beyond the arc. George was absent in a 102-101 overtime win at Memphis on Dec. 9, but Alex Abrines - who was scoreless in 23 minutes against the Cavaliers - stepped into the starting lineup and produced a career-high 20 points.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-37): Memphis held Tyreke Evans out for five straight games while exploring potential trade partners for the high-scoring guard, and he was sluggish in his return to action Sunday by scoring 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Evans had 29 points, a career high-tying 13 rebounds and five assists in the overtime loss to the Thunder earlier this season. Backup center Deyonta Davis, who recently had three 12-point efforts in a span of four games, is expected to be available after missing the last three contests with a knee injury.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Oklahoma City has won the last five meetings.
2. Thunder C Steven Adams had 22 points and a season-high 17 rebounds in Tuesday's loss
3. Grizzlies C Marc Gasol averages 17.9 points but has at least 18 in five of his last six games.