Memphis hosts conference rival Oklahoma City

Fri, Mar 15, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder (46-20, first in the Western Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (23-44, 13th in the Western Conference)

Memphis, Tennessee; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Memphis and Oklahoma City will play on Saturday.

The Grizzlies are 13-29 in Western Conference games. Memphis is 5-23 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 14.4 turnovers per game.

The Thunder have gone 29-15 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City averages 120.8 points while outscoring opponents by 7.7 points per game.

The Grizzlies score 105.7 points per game, 7.4 fewer points than the 113.1 the Thunder give up. The Thunder are shooting 50.0% from the field, 2.8% higher than the 47.2% the Grizzlies' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on March 10 the Thunder won 124-93 led by 23 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Gregory Jackson scored 30 points for the Grizzlies.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jaren Jackson Jr. is scoring 22.4 points per game with 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Grizzlies. Gregory Jackson is averaging 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 38.6% over the last 10 games.

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Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 18.1 points and 3.3 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 99.2 points, 44.5 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 41.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.1 points per game.

Thunder: 7-3, averaging 117.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points.

INJURIES: Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr.: day to day (quad), Desmond Bane: day to day (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (achilles), Vince Williams Jr.: day to day (knee), Ja Morant: out for season (shoulder), Santi Aldama: day to day (elbow), Marcus Smart: out (finger), Derrick Rose: out (back), Ziaire Williams: out (hip), Yuta Watanabe: day to day (wrist), Lamar Stevens: day to day (adductor).

Thunder: Jalen Williams: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.