The Memphis Grizzlies face the San Antonio Spurs tonight after coming off four consecutive games that have been within one possession in the final minute of the game. They fell to 2-2 in those four games after a dagger three by OG Anunoby with 5.3 seconds gave the New York Knicks the season sweep over the Grizzlies last night.
Now, the Grizzlies will look to complete their own season sweep of the Spurs as the teams face off for the fourth and final time this season. Memphis has won the first three matchups of the series by an average of 20.3 points and has scored at least 128 points in each game.
All games against the Spurs have occurred since January 15th and have included Victor Wembanyama, who is now out for the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder. While Wembanyama will be out for the Spurs, they will have recently acquired point guard De'Aaron Fox for his first matchup against the Grizzlies in a Spurs uniform.
While the Grizzlies are 3-0 against the Spurs this season and 8-2 on the second night of back-to-back games, they have an assortment of players who were listed as questionable for tonight's contest.
Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, and Vince Williams Jr. are out vs the Spurs
Ja Morant was somewhat of a late addition to the injury report as he was added an hour after the initial report was released with shoulder soreness. The late addition proved vital as Morant will be out in their final matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
The streak of Ja Morant not playing more than five consecutive games since he played nine straight games from February 7th, 2023 to March 3rd, 2023 will continue. Morant has led the team in scoring in three of the last four games, so the Grizzlies will need someone else to step up in the scoring department.
His starting backcourt teammate and the team's third leading scorer Desmond Bane will be out against the Spurs as well. Bane was the second-leading scorer in last night's loss to the Knicks after being listed as questionable with groin soreness. He will miss tonight's matchup with hip soreness.
Brandon Clarke left last night's game early with a lip laceration that will hold him out tonight. Vince Williams Jr. continues to be injury-managed on back-to-back games as he will be out with knee soreness for the third time in a back-to-back setting since he's returned this season.
Luke Kennard is available to play against the Spurs
Luke Kennard was listed as questionable along with his four teammates above with low back soreness. He headed to the locker room in the first half of their game against the Knicks before returning to finish the game.
He will likely enter the starting lineup with Scotty Pippen Jr. to offset the losses of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. Also, expect Marvin Bagley III and Lamar Stevens to get some playing time in place of Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. GG Jackson (who wasn't listed on tonight's injury report) will also return after a one-game absence due to corneal inflammation.