The Memphis Grizzlies are in near desperation mode after losing to the Sacramento Kings on March 17th. They enter tonight's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers one game behind the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets for the two-seed. They are also tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the fourth seed.
What hurts most about their loss to the Kings is it knocked them down to 0-7 in the state of California this season, with a matchup at the Los Angeles Clippers on tap for March 21st. It also doesn't help that Ja Morant will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury. He was listed out with shoulder soreness for their March 15th win over the Miami Heat before the hamstring soreness designation before the Kings game.
Reserve forward Santi Aldama has missed their last five games and seven of their last eight overall with a calf strain. Also, reserve point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. missed his first game of the season, which was injury-related with wrist soreness against the Sacramento Kings. Considering their disappointing outing in Sacramento, the Grizzlies will look for reinforcements to take out the Portland Trail Blazers.
Santi Aldama is available to play vs the Blazers
The Grizzlies bench has suffered without their top reserve, especially after sending second-year wing GG Jackson to the G League ahead of their five-game road trip. Santi Aldama returns for a team that is seeking a spark from their second unit that they have been missing in the frontcourt.
Aldama is arguably the Grizzlies' fourth-best player as the team is 6-7 in games that he has missed, including losing four of their last seven games. His presence has been missed and will be a welcome site for a team that needs to get off the mat to ensure their playoff positioning in the top half of the Western Conference standings.
Scotty Pippen Jr. is available to play vs the Blazers
Scotty Pippen Jr. has been playing some of his best basketball of the season since seemingly falling out of the rotation when post-All-Star break basketball began. Since a zero-point outing in only 12 minutes of play against the New York Knicks on February 28th, Pippen Jr. has made a case to be in the playoff rotation with his play in March.
He has averaged 10.6 points, five assists, and 2.2 steals on 47.8% shooting, including 42.8% shooting from three in his nine games played in March. After a one-game absence, Pippen Jr. will return for their battle against the Trail Blazers tonight in Portland. He will likely retain his bench role behind Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane while Ja Morant remains out.