The red-hot Boston Celtics can stretch their season-long winning streak to nine games on Monday when they travel to FedEx Forum for a date with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Boston clinched the NBA's Atlantic division by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 121-11 Saturday, while the Grizzlies remain fifth in the West following a 134-127 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Match preview
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Another defeat this weekend has the Grizzlies barely holding onto an automatic place in the opening round of the post-season, just 1.5 games above the Golden State Warriors, who are seventh and currently in the play-in round.
The Grizzlies have lost six of their last eight games thanks to some poor defensive outings, giving up over 120 points in their previous three defeats.
Interim head coach Tuomas Iiaslo took charge of his first game on Saturday after the club surprisingly parted ways with Taylor Jenkins, who had guided them to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
The first Finnish head coach in NBA history saw his team shoot 43.8% from beyond the arc, though Memphis committed 27 personal fouls against the Lakers, with the latter shooting 92.6% from the free-throw line.
Their next two games occur at FedEx Forum, where the Grizzlies have won three of their last five encounters while claiming 25 victories at home this season.
On Monday, Memphis can claim consecutive triumphs versus Boston in the same season for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign, winning the first meeting against them this season in December (127-121).
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Just like a season ago, the Celtics are moving up the standings in the spring, winning 13 of their 14 games played in March this year, putting them 4.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for first in the Eastern Conference.
Joe Mazzulla got contributions up and down his roster Saturday, with seven players scoring in double figures, including their five starters.
His Celtics have a league-best 31-7 record on the road this season, winning 15 of their last 16 away affairs as the visitors, including seven in a row.
Boston have not just won on the road, but they have often done so emphatically, with 11 of their last 15 victories away from home being by double-digits, while overall their scoring differential outside TD Garden this year is 10.26, the second-best in NBA history behind only the 1972 LA Lakers (11.32).
While they have allowed over 100 points in three of their last four contests, the Celtics still boast one of the best defensive units in the league, sitting third regarding points conceded per game (107.7).
They have won their last three trips to Memphis, with their previous two away games in Tennessee coming down to a single score, including the last one in November 2023 (102-100).
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Team News
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On Saturday, Memphis were without Zyon Pullin who is recovering from patellar tendon surgery, Brandon Clarke sat out with a knee sprain and Marvin Bagley III was in concussion protocol.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant returned from a hamstring strain Saturday, putting up a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists in a losing effort.
Desmond Bane led the way for them against the Lakers with 29 points, five more than Jaren Jackson Jr., while Zach Edey pulled down 11 boards to lead the team in that department.
On the Celtics side, Payton Pritchard was sidelined Saturday due to left hip flexor tightness, while Al Horford was unavailable because of a left big toe sprain.
Their forward-center Xavier Tillman was available against the Spurs but did not play, having only recently recovered from a left knee joint sprain.
Jayson Tatum had a game-high 29 points this weekend and was two assists away from a triple-double with 10 boards and eight helpers, Jrue Holiday had 21 points, shooting a sparkling 71.4% from three-point range, while Luke Kornet made seven of his 10 field goal attempts.
Memphis Grizzlies possible starting 5:
Bane, Morant; Jackson Jr., Wells; Edey
Boston Celtics possible starting 5:
White, Holiday; Tatum, Brown; Kornet
We say: Boston Celtics to win by 4+ points
These games in Memphis are traditionally close encounters, but in the end, the Celtics' depth and momentum are too much for us to overlook, and we believe they will carry them through once again.
Joel Lefevre
