Grizzlies look to lean on Desmond Bane vs. Trail Blazers
Tue Mar 18 10:54pm ET
Field Level Media
Memphis star point guard Ja Morant will miss his third straight contest when the Grizzlies visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
After missing two games due to his ailing right shoulder, Morant will miss this contest due to a left hamstring injury.
Morant's absence means Desmond Bane can lead the way again after he poured in season bests of 44 points and seven 3-pointers in Monday's 132-122 road loss against the Sacramento Kings.
Bane was 15 of 25 from the field and didn't miss a single 3-point attempt or a single free throw. He fell five points shy of his career high achieved against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 6, 2023.
Memphis (43-26) had won five of its previous six games before losing to the Kings and is in a virtual tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"We don't try to put too much of a magnifying glass on any one result," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. "A win isn't going to dictate everything, a loss isn't going to dictate everything. We have to think about the whole 48 minutes and how our process looks like."
Memphis is just one game behind the two teams in second place in the West -- the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.
Though it's important to finish as high as possible, Jenkins said he doesn't want everybody constantly checking the standings.
"Having the right balance that we are the priority and making sure we are the best version of ourselves is the thing we can control," Jenkins said.
The Grizzlies twice knocked off the Trail Blazers in November, winning 134-89 in Portland and prevailing 123-98 at home. Wednesday's game is the final one between the teams this season.
Portland (30-39) has won its past two games and stands 2-1 on a make-or-break seven-game homestand. Following the game against Memphis, the Trail Blazers will face the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Trail Blazers are three games behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks for the final playoff spot in the West. The Phoenix Suns are in 11th place and one game behind Dallas.
Anfernee Simons scored 30 points to lead Portland to a 112-97 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Monday. The 30-point outing was Simons' fifth of the month.
"We played well," Simons said. "We got up, we sustained it and we were able to pull away."
Simons understands the situation facing the Trail Blazers.
"We got some work to do because nobody in the West is losing," Simons said. "We've got to string together some wins. Whether that's going against Memphis or Cleveland or Boston. We got to get through these teams to get where we want."
Portland's Mattise Thybulle had five steals in his second game of the season on Monday. He underwent knee surgery before the season and later sustained an ankle injury that threatened to keep him from playing this season.
But now he has seven steals in two games while reminding everyone why he is considered a top-notch defender.
"I love what I saw out of him," Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "It was regular ‘Tisse. He's all over the place. He's trying to get his feet under him. It's been a long time since he played."
Jerami Grant (knee) is doubtful and fellow forward Toumani Camara (calf) is questionable.
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Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a 120-113 win over the Lakers on Thursday, Mar. 5.
Bulls' G Collin Sexton scored 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting in a 105-103 win over Phoenix on Thursday, Mar. 5. Sexton is owned in only 35.3% leagues.
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Before Wednesday's loss to the Clippers, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that Zubac would definitely play this season. However, his Pacers debut won't happen on Friday night. The Croatian big man has been on the shelf since Feb. 2 due to a left ankle sprain. Jay Huff and Micah Potter will continue to do the heavy lifting at the No. 5 spot until Zubac is ready to play.
Charlotte Hornets forward/center Grant Williams (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Friday against the Miami Heat. He hasn't been listed on the injury report after sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday against Boston. Williams has contributed 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 19.9 minutes per game since recovering from a bad knee injury and making his season debut on Jan. 10. On Friday, Williams might be slightly more productive on the offensive end, as Miami allows the sixth-most bench points in the Association.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle, back) is listed as probable for Friday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old is a bit banged up, dealing with ankle and lower back injuries, but he is expected to make a second straight appearance. Nesmith ended a five-game absence on Wednesday against the Clippers but clearly wasn't himself, notching two points, three rebounds, and two assists with 1-for-8 shooting. Indiana limited Nesmith to 20 minutes on Wednesday night and may continue to monitor his minutes against the Lakers.
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (neck) will make a third consecutive appearance on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report due to neck spasms. The team upgraded Murphy III to probable earlier in the day, and he has now been officially cleared to play. Even with the Pelicans struggling, Murphy III has had a fantastic campaign. He is averaging career-high numbers in several categories, posting 22.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The Kings are horrible defensively, giving Murphy III a chance to do something special on Thursday night.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back, neck) is considered probable for Friday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old is dealing with soreness in his lower back and neck area, but the probable designation indicates that Nembhard is expected to make a second consecutive appearance. However, Nembhard's ongoing health issues appeared to impact him during Wednesday's game against the Clippers, where he managed only five points on 1-for-5 shooting. It was a major disappointment for fantasy managers who had seen Nembhard produce at least 20 points in each of his previous three games.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (ankle) will suit up on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings. Williamson played through an ankle injury on Tuesday against the Lakers and has been cleared for Thursday's game despite being listed as questionable on the initial injury report. While Williamson isn't at 100 percent, he managed 24 points, four rebounds, and one steal in 33 minutes against the Lakers. On Thursday, Williamson has an easier matchup and may also have more of the ball with Dejounte Murray (Achilles) out of the lineup.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (wrist) is probable for Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. He looks to be on track to make a second consecutive appearance after shaking off a wrist injury. Siakam returned from a three-game absence on Wednesday with a 29-point effort in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. While health issues have limited Siakam's involvement in recent weeks, he has been brilliant when available, averaging 29.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over his last three outings.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (elbow) will remain sidelined for at least a couple more weeks. On Thursday, the team announced that Morant continues to experience discomfort in his left elbow due to a UCL sprain, and follow-up imaging showed incomplete healing. Morant has been out since Jan. 21, playing in only 20 games this season. In Morant's absence, Memphis will continue to rely on Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), and Cam Spencer to handle playmaking duties, though Jerome and Pippen Jr. are both managing injuries of their own.
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton and forward Leonard Miller will join the first unit for Thursday's tilt against the Phoenix Suns. The two will replace Josh Giddey (ankle) and Matas Buzelis (ankle), respectively. While Sexton has plenty of prior experience as a starter, Miller will make his first career start. He has earned the opportunity by averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals off the bench across the last three games. Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, and Guerschon Yabusele are also in the starting lineup against the Suns.
Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro has been named a starter for Thursday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls. He will replace Mark Williams (foot) in the first unit. Williams has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks, meaning this should be the first of several consecutive starts for Ighodaro. In his previous seven starts this season, Ighodaro has averaged 6.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23.8 minutes. However, earlier this week, Ighodaro demonstrated he is capable of much more by contributing to a 114-103 victory over Sacramento with a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The seven-footer has been rested regularly during back-to-back sets, and that was the case again when the Knicks hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Robinson's return will bump Ariel Hukporti down in the depth chart. On Friday night, Robinson will play a crucial role in the Knicks' effort to contain Nikola Jokic. The 27-year-old has averaged 5.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks across his last six outings.
Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) won't play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. There was hope that Johnson's absence due to an ankle injury would be limited to one game after the team listed him as questionable on the initial injury report. Johnson's next opportunity to return will be Friday night against the New York Knicks. With Johnson out on Monday against Utah, Denver experimented with Jonas Valanciunas in the starting lineup next to Nikola Jokic. Meanwhile, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown both saw 30-plus minutes off the bench. The two will probably continue to have a heavier workload on Thursday night.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (back) is listed as questionable for a meeting with the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The versatile veteran suffered a back contusion in Wednesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This doesn't seem to be a significant enough issue to keep Hart off the court. However, if he misses time, New York will look for more production from Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet. Jordan Clarkson might also rejoin the rotation.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (illness) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against the Houston Rockets. He's battling an illness and could be absent for a second consecutive game. Murray has recently been Deni Avdija's (back) replacement in the starting unit. With both players on the shelf, Scoot Henderson started Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing with eight points, one rebound, three assists, and one steal in 24 minutes. His night was hampered by 3-for-11 shooting. Vit Krejci and Sidy Cissoko are also candidates for larger roles if Murray and Avdija don't return on Friday night.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Maxi Kleber (back) will miss the first game of a back-to-back on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report due to back soreness. Kleber was also considered questionable for Tuesday's meeting with New Orleans before getting the green light to play. Yet Lakers head coach JJ Redick elected not to use Kleber in that game. It wasn't surprising, as Kleber doesn't have a consistent role with the Lakers. Even if the German veteran returns to the lineup on Friday against the Indiana Pacers, he might receive another DNP-CD.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (back) has been tagged as doubtful for Friday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. A lower back injury is likely to keep him sidelined for a sixth consecutive game. With Kris Murray (illness) also on the injury report, Scoot Henderson and Vit Krejci may continue to see increased minutes. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant, who combined for 65 points in Wednesday's 122-114 win over Memphis, are expected to keep leading the offense.
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns. The 21-year-old hurt his right ankle on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder and was initially listed as questionable for Thursday's action. Buzelis' absence opens the door for greater involvement from Leonard Miller and Nick Richards. Of the two players, Richards -- fresh off a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double -- offers more fantasy upside.
Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey (ankle) won't play on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. He was initially listed as questionable for the contest after Giddey rolled his right ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago's backcourt has been hit by several injuries, forcing Tre Jones, Collin Sexton, and Rob Dillingham to step up. With Giddey out, Sexton is the prime candidate to join Jones in the starting lineup on Thursday.
