It's still unclear whether Memphis will have the services of Tayshaun Prince and Ed Davis on Thursday night, but either way, they'll be bringing a radically different team into town from the last time they played Oklahoma City.
Thursday’s NBA schedule: A new day in Memphis
The Grizzlies will be on national TV the day after a three-team blockbuster that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto.
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Check out Straight Outta Vancouver, SB Nation’s Grizzlies blog, for their take on the big trade.
For a look ahead to all the big NBA games this weekend, head on over to our partners at SI.com.
Even without the trade, Memphis would have been shorthanded, as reserve SF Quincy Pondexter is still recovering from a knee sprain while PG Mike Conley is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. That could mean more run for rookies Tony Wroten and Chris Johnson, who've performed well in limited minutes this season.
The Thunder, meanwhile, are still smarting from a tough loss to the Lakers on Sunday and they certainly remember what happened the last time the Grizzlies were in town. Memphis beat them 107-97 in a physical game that ended in ejections for Zach Randolph and Kendrick Perkins and a possible altercation in the tunnels of the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
There aren't quite as many storylines for the Warriors game against the Mavs, but it will be the first time many national viewers get a chance to see Andrew Bogut this season. The oft-injured center made his return from injury this week, and if he can stay healthy, he could add another dimension to a Golden State team that has been one of the NBA's biggest surprises.
Dallas, barely staying alive in the playoff race, is coming off a devastating last-second loss in Portland on Tuesday. They’ll need to start stringing together victories against teams like Golden State if they want any chance of making a late-season push to get into the top eight out West.
See More:
