Grizzlies at Wizards
The Washington Wizards are 11 games below .500 and threatening to fall out of the Eastern Conference postseason race. Washington stands 3 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Miami Heat as it enters Saturday's home game with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Wizards are 2-1 during a stretch in which they play seven of eight at home but suffered a major blow Friday when they dropped a 116-110 home decision against the Charlotte Hornets. "We were running in the mud offensively," Washington coach Scott Brooks said during his postgame press conference, referencing his club falling behind by 21 in the second quarter before a rally came up short. Memphis had a three-game winning streak halted when it allowed a season worst for points while being roughed up 132-111 by the host Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. "This group hasn't had a night like this before," Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters of a team revamped at the trading deadline. "Some nights you have these nights. We just can't repeat it. We laid an egg, plain and simple. You could feel it. We were loose on both ends of the floor."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (28-41): Veteran swingman C.J. Miles scored a season-best 33 points in the loss to Atlanta and his eight 3-pointers fell one shy of the club mark set by sharpshooter Mike Miller. Miles was a stellar 8-of-12 from behind the arc while falling two shy of his career-best output of 10, set Jan. 7, 2014 when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Point guard Mike Conley has scored 20 or more points in four straight games and is averaging 28.5 during the stretch.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (29-40): All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal scored 40 points in the loss to Charlotte for his fourth game of 40 or more this season and 11th in his career. While Beal was hot, power forward Bobby Portis (three points on 1-of-7 shooting) was cold for the second straight game and is averaging 4.5 points while making 4-of-18 shots during the span. "We want him to continue to play aggressively and believe in his abilities and it seems like he gets down on himself," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "One thing I do know, once he does have a bad game, he bounces back."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Grizzlies recorded a 107-95 home win over the Wizards on Oct. 30 but have dropped their last four visits to Washington.
2. Washington PG Tomas Satoransky (concussion) is unlikely to be cleared after leaving Friday's contest.
3. Starting Memphis C Jonas Valanciunas didn't collect a rebound in 20 minutes against Atlanta.