Grizzlies: Game preview and injury report vs. Detroit Pistons

Memphis looks to get on a roll against a struggling Detroit Pistons basketball team.

Tonight, the Grizzlies will be taking on the Detroit Pistons at 7:00 PM CST. Memphis is coming off of a solid win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving them some confidence coming into this matchup. This Grizzlies team is playing decent basketball, winning 3 of their last 5 games after a 4-game skid to kick off the month of February.

That being said, Ja Morant has been getting back into his groove this year and Memphis could have more firepower than they have had in recent games. They’ve managed to knock off the Thunder, Kings, and Hornets in their last three wins. Can they continue to find success against bottom-tier NBA teams?

All signs point to yes, but it won’t be easy for the Grizzlies, who are still struggling with a handful of injuries. On the positive end, De’Anthony Melton has been upgraded to questionable after missing the past six games with a shoulder injury. Dillon Brooks, on the other hand, was added to the list of questionables for tonight’s game with soreness in his right thigh.

Desmond Bane is also not listed on the report, so he should be returning to play tonight after missing the last four games for personal reasons. This will be a huge pickup, as he scored a career-high 18 points in his last outing against the Hornets. They’ll need all the firepower they can get against a steadily improving Pistons squad.

The full injury report from Grizzlies PR can be seen below.

There are no new players listed as out for the game. We’ll continue to watch a Jaren Jackson-less team until at least the All-Star break. Justise Winslow will also remain on the sideline with a Hip Displacement. Once these guys return to action, the Grizzlies should get a solid boost to finish out the year.

The Pistons are undoubtedly one of the worst teams in the NBA, but that does not mean that this will be a walk in the park for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite a disappointing 8-20 record on the year, Detroit has won 3 of their last 5 games. This includes strong wins against the Nets, Celtics, and Pelicans.

This positive trend is coming as a result of strong play from Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey. These two guys have stepped up for a team that has nothing to lose at this point in the year. They’ve shown that they can pick off some strong teams, with their few wins coming against some really intimidating squads so far.

Something noteworthy about this matchup is that the Grizzlies will face three former members of this team, including Josh Jackson, who led Detroit with 21 points in their last game. This, paired with the fact that the Grizzlies have struggled at home this year, should turn this game into an entertaining Friday-night showdown.

You have to expect the Grizzlies to win, but the Pistons won’t go down easy. Expect a big game from Josh Jackson, but an even bigger game from the Grizzlies’ big men. Detroit doesn’t have a lot of size down low, so Ja Morant will likely be feeding the ball to Jonas Valanciunas all night long.

The Grizzlies will look to get their second straight win ahead of a tough matchup against the 17-10 Phoenix Suns tomorrow night.