Aiming to win five games in a row for the first time since late January, the Memphis Grizzlies will lock horns against high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers at the FedExForum on Saturday.
Heading into this weekend's encounter on a 15-match winning run, the away side have swept everything before them of late and will certainly take some stopping here.
Match preview
© Imago
After back-to-back games on the road against the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers were back in action on home turf with a 109-104 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
Having trailed by a whopping 18 points at the start of the second half, Kenny Atkinson's men were in danger of suffering defeat for the first time since early February but managed to cut the deficit to single digits heading into the fourth quarter, where they saved the best for last to complete a stunning comeback.
Witt leading scorer Donovan Mitchell unavailable, Darius Garland (30), Jarrett Allen (23) and Evan Mobley (21) came to the fore for the Cavs as they made history by becoming the first team in NBA history to win 15 straight games twice in the same season.
Despite recently becoming the first team this term to book a place in the postseason, the Cavaliers are showing no signs of letting up anytime soon which bodes well for their chances of securing a first championship since 2016.
In the meantime, the Ohio-based side will now set out to record their longest winning streak of the campaign with a 16th triumph on the bounce and will be confident of emerging victory having won each of the last three regular-season clashes against their upcoming opponents.
Saturday's visitors are on the road for six of their next seven outings across a 10-day span during which their only home encounter will come against the fellow Eastern Conference outfit Orlando Magic on March 16.
© Imago
Shortly after concluding February with a highly absorbing 151-148 victory over the Phoenix Suns, which remains the highest-scoring NBA game this term, the Grizzlies were beaten in each of their opening four March involvements.
However, Taylor Jenkins's men have since responded with wins in each of their subsequent four outings, most recently a 122-115 triumph over the Utah Jazz in Thursday's encounter between the sides.
Up by 14 points at the interval, the Grizzlies looked set to cruise to victory in the second half but were given a scare in the third quarter, where they had their lead cut to four before upping the ante in the final 12 minutes to seal the deal.
Tallying a season-high 35 points, Luke Kennard proved to be the unlikely hero for his side with 13 points in the fourth quarter while also shooting 4-5 from the field and knocking down all four three-point attempts.
Leapfrogging the Denver Nuggets, the Grizzlies have moved back up into second place in the Western Conference standings as the race to finish as runners-up to the Oklahoma City Thunder heats up.
In a game that sees the two most productive sides offensively go head to head with a combined 245.3 points per game, Saturday's hosts will be keen to avenge their 129-123 defeat to the visitors last month.
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
Jaren Jackson Jr is currently nursing an ankle problem but is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action for the Memphis Grizzlies, having returned to practice already.
Santi Aldama is also expected to miss out for the home side due to a calf problem, while Zyon Pullin continues his recovery from a right patellar tendon surgery.
Twenty-seven-year-old De'Andre Hunter missed the Cavaliers' defeat to the Nets due to an illness and remains a major doubt for Saturday's trip to Tennessee.
Donovan Mitchell was also absent from the aforementioned game due to a groin problem, making him his involvement this weekend uncertain but TY Jerome is available to feature following a rest last time out.
Memphis Grizzlies possible starting five:
Morant, Bane; Wells, Jackson; Edey
Cleveland Cavaliers possible starting five:
Garland, Strus; Okoro, Mobley; Allen
We say: Cavaliers to win by 5+ points
Given the offensive firepower on display, we are anticipating an exciting clash with both teams going full throttle.
That said, we are also backing the away side to get the job done when all is said and done.
Adepoju Marvellous
