The Memphis Grizzlies will close a five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers. Can they finish above .500 for the trip?
The Memphis Grizzlies finish off a five-game road trip tonight against the Clippers. They’ve won against the Lakers and the Kings, and they’ve lost against the Warriors and the Suns.
So far this season, the Grizzlies have won both matchups against the Clippers — most recently, December 23rd, their last home game. This time around, the Clippers will feature star player Blake Griffin.
Since his return, they’ve won both games as he’s averaging 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists. With him in the lineup, the Clippers have their go-to scorer and a primary playmaker, a unique combination for the power forward position.
How the Grizzlies prepare for Griffin should be interesting. JaMychal Green has been battling injuries recently, and Chandler Parson has been experiencing knee soreness. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Jarell Martin handle Griffin for most of this game given his recent performances. On this road trip, Martin is averaging 12.5 points on 62.9 percent shooting from the field. He also had a stellar game against the Lakers where he scored a career-high 20 points and forced Kyle Kuzma into a terrible 4-24 shooting night.
The Grizzlies will also have their hands full against the Clippers’ backcourt, primarily Lou Williams and Austin Rivers. Both players are capable of scoring 30+ points on any given night. In the Grizzlies’ last matchup with the Clippers, both of these players went off as Rivers scored 38 points and Lou Will scored 36 points. Tyreke Evans, Dillon Brooks, Andrew Harrison and Wayne Selden should have their hands full against this backcourt.
This game should be exciting as both teams are trying to claw out of the lottery in this brutal Western Conference. Could the Grizzlies start 2018 with a win against their old rival? Can they finish 3-2 on this road trip?
Next: Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan center of trade rumors
Game Info
Who: Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers
When: 9:30 PM – ct
Where: Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast — or any online stream
How to listen: 92.9 ESPN – Memphis