One night after the visit Portland Trail Blazers ended a nine-game losing streak with a dominant win over the Grizzliesthe teams will meet again on Saturday in Memphis.
Dalano Banton scored a season-high 19 points, Jabari Walker also scored 19 and Duop Reath added 18 in Portland’s 122-92 win over the Grizzlies on Friday. The Blazers led by 33 points in the second half.
Jake LaRavia scored a career-high 21 points for Memphis, which has lost four straight and 13 of its last 15. The Grizzlies committed 23 turnovers and were overwhelmed 46-30.
“Basically, they scored 80 points in the paint from free throws,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “There’s a lot to clean up. They played extremely well, and we didn’t have it. We played poorly.”
Both teams are playing shorthanded due to multiple injuries. Portland won Friday’s game despite missing Scoot Henderson (left adductor strain), Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow tendonitis), Shaedon Sharpe (lower abdomen surgery), Robert Williams III (right knee surgery ) and Deandre Ayton (sprained right hand).
Memphis’ long injury list includes Jaren Jackson Jr. (right quad tendon soreness), Derrick Rose (lower back soreness), Ja Morant (right shoulder surgery), Desmond Bane (left ankle sprain ), Marcus Smart (injured right ring finger), Luke Kennard (illness) and John Konchar (sprained left thumb).
The numerous ailments have forced the Grizzlies to use a league-high 34 different starting lineups this season. Their home fans expressed their displeasure during Friday’s game, when many headed for the exits well before the final buzzer.
“You see your fans leave with like eight minutes left, it really sticks with us as players,” Memphis forward GG Jackson said. “They want to come see us play. And it’s kind of like they’re slapping us in the face like, ‘We don’t want to see you play.’ We need to change that.”
Memphis will look to rebound against a Portland team that had six players score in double figures on Friday. The Blazers took control in the third quarter, when they shot 78.9 percent from the field and outscored Memphis 40-27.
“We did it together,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “It’s just good to get that monkey off your back, if you will. We played so hard and I thought we played well. We just haven’t been able to get a win in quite a long time. moment. So it’s good that it’s happening for us.
Kris Murray scored 14 points for Portland, which has won just two of its 21 road games against Western Conference opponents this season.
Ayton sat out due to an injury suffered in the Trail Blazers’ loss to the Miami Heat. He is listed as questionable for Saturday.
Ayton’s absence created playing time for backup center Moses Brown, who returned after missing 25 games with a left wrist injury and scored seven points in nine minutes coming off the bench.
“I thought Moses’ minutes were huge for us,” Billups said. “Just getting him back in the lineup, having that type of size, rebounding and (finishing) around the basket was good for us.”
–Field level media
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