The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to square off for the second time this season in the battle of the top two seeds in the Western Conference. The Thunder won the first matchup against a hobbled Grizzlies team that had eight players on the injury report at the end of December.
The Grizzlies are set to be the healthiest they have been all season for tonight's matchup with the Thunder but were awaiting one final update about their starting shooting guard, which they received an hour before game time.
Desmond Bane will be available vs the Thunder
Desmond Bane missed the Grizzlies' last two games with an ankle sprain and was upgraded to questionable for tonight's matchup against the Thunder. He was confirmed to play roughly an hour before the scheduled tipoff to mark the first game this season that the team is virtually fully healthy.
Status Update:
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) February 9, 2025
Desmond Bane is available tonight against the Thunder. https://t.co/HUfosXSQ5p
After trading Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia at the NBA trade deadline, the Grizzlies will only miss the players they acquired in the trade, Marvin Bagley Jr. and Johnny Davis. Two-way guard Cam Spencer remains out with left thumb surgery.
Desmond Bane is averaging 17.9 points on 49.8% shooting this season and is on a streak of scoring 20+ points in 13 of his last 16 games. He played in the Grizzlies' first matchup against the Thunder on December 29th and produced 22 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in their 24-point defeat on the road.
The players the Grizzlies were missing in that matchup included Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and Zach Edey. The Thunder played that game without Alex Caruso (who will play tonight) and Chet Holmgren (who is out tonight).
The Thunder will also be without Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort for tonight's battle against the Grizzlies. The Thunder have also won six consecutive games against the Grizzlies dating back to 2022.
The Grizzlies trail the Thunder by 6.5 games for the first seed in the Western Conference, so they will look to not only stop their losing streak against the Thunder but gain ground in the standings for the West's top seed for the playoffs.
Winners of 10 of their last 11 games, the Grizzlies are getting healthy at the perfect time to make a run at the top seed while playing their best basketball. Look forward to a back-and-forth between the best the West has to offer in Memphis tonight.