The Grizzlies face a big conundrum after learning that their NBA All-Star, Ja Morant, is out for the season because he’ll need surgery on his right shoulder.
Because they’re currently in the bottom half of the Western Conference, Memphis’ NBA 2024 odds of making it to the postseason look slim, so tanking the rest of the 2023-24 campaign for a chance to get a lottery pick this summer might be better than trying to get a winning record.
In tomorrow’s five-game schedule, the Grizzlies are set to visit the Mavericks, while the Kings, Timberwolves, Blazers, and Raptors will do the same against the Pistons, Magic, Knicks, and Lakers, respectively.
Learn about these matchups and more, as SBOTOP is here today to preview them one by one.
Sacramento Kings @ Detroit Pistons
The Kings saw their two-game winning streak ended by the Pelicans, so they’ll be looking to bounce back against the lowly Pistons.
The New Orleans game was a night to forget for De’Aaron Fox, as he recorded a season-low three points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field.
His co-star, Domantas Sabonis, was the only bright spot for Sacramento, as the Lithuanian international had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
The Pistons, on the other hand, have lost four in a row after ending their run of futility against the Raptors not too long ago.
And then there’s the NBA 2024 news about Cade Cunningham, who limped off against the Nuggets.
According to reports, Cunningham is believed to have avoided a serious injury to his left knee, but he is expected to miss “a few games” at least, so Killian Hayes, Alec Burks, and Jaden Ivey will deputise in his absence.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Orlando Magic
The Timberwolves are in jeopardy of ceding the top spot in the Western Conference because they’ve lost three of their last four.
Anthony Edwards did all he could against the Mavericks by scoring 36 points on 14-of-27 shooting, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Still, he remains solid for the Timberwolves, especially after having scored at least 30 points in five of his last six.
Edwards’ counterpart is going to be Paolo Banchero, who will continue to carry the offencive load for the Magic without the injured Franz Wagner. The reigning ROY has recorded at least 30 points in each of his last three outings, including a career-high 43 points against the Kings last week.
Portland Blazers @ New York Knicks
The Knicks have yet to lose a game since acquiring OG Anunoby from the Raptors, even if he’s only averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game thus far.
That’s because his impact is mainly seen on the defencive end, as during their four-game winning streak, the Knicks have only surrendered an average of 100.8 points per game for a superb defencive rating of 104.3.
On the other side of the floor, Julius Randle has picked it up lately because he has notched at least 35 points in four of his last six games.
So, good luck for the Blazers in trying to stop them because they have conceded at least 126 points in their last three games, with their frontcourt depth compromised.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks
Last season, the Grizzlies were rolling sans Ja Morant, but that’s unlikely to be the case once again.
That’s because, all season long, they’ve been dogged by injuries. Other than Morant (shoulder), Steven Adams (knee), Brandon Clarke (Achilles), and Derrick Rose (thigh) are also currently out for long spells.
In stark contrast, the Mavericks are getting better following the returns of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
Since returning to the court after a heel injury, Irving has posted norms of 25.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, while Doncic is averaging 31.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game since the New Year.
Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers finally won a game after dropping their last four, and they’re hoping to build off it in order to get back in the play-in tournament picture.
Against the Clippers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 47 points in the 106-103 win, and now they’ll take on a Raptors’ squad that has won three of their last four.
The arrivals of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have given the Raptors a little bit of a spark. Barrett, in particular, is the one to look out for after he dropped a season-high 37 points in their rout of the Warriors.
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