Oklahoma City takes home win streak into matchup with Memphis

Sat, Mar 9, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Memphis Grizzlies (22-41, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-19, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will try to keep its eight-game home win streak alive when the Thunder face Memphis.

The Thunder are 27-15 in Western Conference games. Oklahoma City ranks last in the Western Conference with just 41.6 rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.8.

The Grizzlies have gone 13-28 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis allows 112.5 points to opponents and has been outscored by 6.3 points per game.

The Thunder's 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.1 more made shots on average than the 13.2 per game the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies are shooting 43.8% from the field, 1.5% lower than the 45.3% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 116-97 on Dec. 19. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to help lead the Thunder to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.1 steals for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 20.9 points over the last 10 games.

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Jaren Jackson Jr. is scoring 22.6 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 121.3 points, 43.4 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 9.1 steals and 7.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points per game.

Grizzlies: 4-6, averaging 101.6 points, 43.2 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: None listed.

Grizzlies: Desmond Bane: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (achilles), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (back), Ja Morant: out for season (shoulder), Marcus Smart: out (finger), GG Jackson II: out (knee), Derrick Rose: out (back), Luke Kennard: out (knee), Ziaire Williams: out (hip), Yuta Watanabe: out (wrist).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.