Improving Grizzlies Welcome Battered Thunder

Mike Conley’s excellent form is helping he Memphis Grizzlies climb the standings.

Currently experiencing a run of good form, the Memphis Grizzlies will look for a third straight win Tuesday as they host a wounded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tip-off at FedExForum in downtown Memphis is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

With Lionel Hollins no longer at the helm, Memphis (17-19, 9-12 home) began the season struggling to find consistency, limping out to a 10-15 record. Things have been different of late.

Winners of seven of their last 11, the Grizzlies are now looking like a team with playoff potential. A sustained run over the next few weeks should see the side move into the top eight in the Western Conference.

One key component in the team’s recent success has been point guard Mike Conley.

After a breakout season a year ago, the seven-year guard out of Ohio State is once more leading by example. His 18.1 points per game leads the Grizzlies and would stand as a career-high if he continues to play at this pace for the whole season. The same goes for his 6.5 assists per contest.

Conley has posted monster games his last three times out, scoring 30 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs last Tuesday; 31 points in a win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday; and 21 points and 13 assists in Sunday’s 108-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

This run of, dare we say it, All-Star form comes right as Slam published an article waxing lyrical about the 26-year-old.

Memphis could be about to get a whole lot better too.

The Commercial Appeal reported Monday that center Marc Gasol may be nearing a return to the hardwood.

Gasol has missed eight weeks of action after suffering a MCL strain on November 22. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been missed. His return to action will likely pay dividends for the Grizzlies though as the team looks to improve on its current 11th ranking out west.

Still, Memphis will be without Gasol for Tuesday’s game.

Oklahoma City (28-9, 12-6 road) knows all too well the impact an injured player can have on the team.

The Thunder is currently without All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, who suffered a knee injury on Christmas Day. Since Westbrook went down, the Thunder has gone 5-4.

The Grizzlies benefitted greatly from Westbrook’s absence when the two sides met in the Western Conference semifinals last May. Will the same be true on Tuesday?

Westbrook isn’t the only Thunder player whose health is in doubt.

Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, went down hard in Saturday’s 101-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, hurting his wrist in the process. Durant has missed practice since and will likely be a game time decision when the Thunder.

Without Durant, the Thunder could be in serious trouble.

Prior to Saturday’s win over the NBA-worst Bucks, the Thunder had dropped a pair of games.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies odds for 01/14/2014

With Durant’s playing status in question, Vegas had not released a line at time of publication. You can get all of the latest odds as they come in by clicking the link above.

If Durant plays, the Thunder will likely enter the game as a narrow favorite. If he misses the game, Memphis will be a home favorite.

The Grizzlies should perhaps be a home favorite anyway.

Memphis lost 116-100 to Oklahoma City back on December 11 but prior to that the Grizzlies had taken seven of the last nine meetings between the sides, including last year’s playoff run.

The Thunder however owns a 48-20 all-time advantage over the Grizzlies, dating back to when both sides were based in the Pacific Northwest.

Lines may not have been released yet but here are some trends to keep in mind.

Oklahoma City (20-17-0 ATS) has been better than Memphis (15-20-0 ATS) against the spread this season. The Grizzlies are just 7-15-1 ATS when playing at FedExForum.

Memphis has covered the spread in five of its last six games against Oklahoma City but only two of its last six when hosting the Thunder.

Both Memphis (20-16-0) and Oklahoma City (19-18-0) have favored the over this season.

The total has gone over in 17 of the last 25 meetings between the sides, including four of the last six played in Memphis.

The Grizzlies and Thunder will meet twice more this season, on February 3 and 28. Both meetings will take place at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

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