The top two teams in the Western Conference meet in OKC on Sunday night as the Thunder hosts the Memphis Grizzlies. Unfortunately, neither team is at full strength, and both squads are missing some of their best players. The Thunder defeated the Hornets last night in Charlotte without Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace among others, but those two are back in action tonight. Meanwhile, Memphis will be without Ja Morant after he sustained a knee injury a few nights, and Zach Edey was just ruled out due to concussion protocol.
Regardless of who is healthy and who is not, the game must be played, as the saying goes, and this could be an important one when it comes down to the final standings headed into the Playoffs. Tonight’s meeting is the first of the 4 games in the season series, and while OKC has a firm lead on first in the Western Conference, over half the season remains to be played, so there is no telling what implications the result of tonight’s matchup could have at season’s end.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: FanDuel TV
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Memphis Grizzlies Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Cason Wallace
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Grizzlies
- PG: Scotty Pippen Jr.
- SG: Desmond Bane
- SF: Jaylen Wells
- PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
- C: Jay Huff
Injury Report
Thunder
- Branden Carlson (concussion protocol) is OUT.
- Alex Caruso (strained left hip) is OUT.
- Luguentz Dort (sprained right ankle) is AVAILABLE.
- Alex Ducas (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Adam Flagler (G League —two-way) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (fractured right iliac wing) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (sprained left knee) is OUT.
- Cason Wallace (left quad contusion) is AVAILABLE.
Grizzlies
- Santi Aldama (sprained left ankle) is OUT.
- Brandon Clarke (right knee soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Zach Edey (concussion protocol) is OUT.
- GG Jackson II (right fifth metatarsal repair) is OUT.
- Ja Morant (right AC joint sprain) is OUT.
- Marcus Smart (partial extensor hood tear in right index finger) is OUT.
- Vince Williams Jr. (sprained right ankle) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 33-23 against the Grizzlies (21-9 at home, 11-14 on the road) in the regular season and 9-10 in the playoffs (6-5 at home, 3-5 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Grizzlies 9 times, lost it 6 times, and tied it once.
- The Thunder went 3-0 against the Grizzlies last season (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).