The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies bring their schedule for 2024 to an end with a mouth-watering Western Conference top-of-the-table clash on Monday.
The Grizzlies, who have lost each of their most recent four regular-season visits to the Paycom Center, will be looking to end this dry spell and close the gap on the home side at the top of the standings.
Match preview
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There were 11 lead changes in the game between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday but a late run in the fourth quarter saw the OKC secure a 120-114 victory at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In an exciting back-and-forth contest, the Pacers led at the end of the first three quarters, including a 15-point lead after the first period, but after Tyrese Haliburton scored to give Indiana a 107-103 lead deep in the fourth quarter, the Thunder hit back with an 8-0 run to take a four-point lead with 1:39 left on the shot clock.
Off the back of a 41-point game against the Washington Wizards on Boxing Day, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned in another standout individual display as he knocked down 15 of 22 shots, including a deep 3-pointer to put the Thunder 114-109 up with 59 seconds, to finish with a career-high 45 points.
Mark Daigneault's men have won each of their four matches since their 97-81 defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2024 NBA Cup championship game on December 18 and have put together a run of nine victories in 10 outings since December 4.
Having finished first in the Western Conference standings last season, the Thunder have stamped themselves as genuine contenders once again as they sit top of the table with a 27-4 record from their 31 matches so far.
Before their highly-anticipated clash with the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma are on the road for the last time this year when they journey to the Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
While this will be their first game against the Hornets this season, Daigneault's side are on a 2-0 run in the two clashes between the sides this year, edging out the Hornets 126-106 at the Paycom Center in February before claiming a narrow 121-118 victory on April 7.
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Elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies made it two wins from two on their travels as they rolled past the New Orleans Pelicans 132-124 when the two sides squared off at the Smoothie King Center on Friday night.
Trey Murphy and CJ McCollum combined for 67 points to keep the Pelicans in the contest but all five Grizzlies starters finished with double figures, led by Jaren Jackson, who knocked down a team-high 33 points to lead Memphis to a hard-fought victory.
Floor general Ja Morant enjoyed an efficient display as he went 8-11 from the field, including 3 of 4 attempts from beyond the arc to finish with 25 points while rookie Zach Edey tallied 14 points to go with nine rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
The Memphis Grizzlies have now won four of their most recent five outings, with their 114-110 Boxing Day defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers being the exception, and have gone 4-1 from their five games on the road since December 8.
With Friday night's victory, Taylor Jenkins's men have improved to a 22-10 record this season to sit second in the Western Conference standings, just above third-placed Houston Rockets, who have picked up 21 wins from 31 matches.
While Memphis will be looking to make it three road wins in the spin and close out the year on a high, they face the stern challenge of an opposing side who have won each of their most recent five regular-season clashes, stretching back to a 123-102 defeat in December 2022.
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Team News
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While Adam Flagler (metacarpal), Nikola Topic (ACL) and Chet Holmgren (hip) all continue their lengthy spells on the sidelines, Oklahoma City Thunder's injury list continues to grow.
Alex Caruso missed the game against Indiana after sustaining a hip problem against the Wizards on Boxing Day while guard Luguentz Dort has been ruled out through a right ankle sprain.
Cason Wallace recently sustained a left quad contusion and the 21-year-old guard is a major doubt for OKC, while Alex Ducas has been out of action since picking up a back injury in October.
The Memphis Grizzlies also have their fair share of injury concerns as Santi Aldama (ankle), Vince Williams Jr. (ankle) and GG Jackson II (foot) all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Marcus Smart has missed each of the last three games since picking up a finger injury against the Atlanta Hawks on December 22 while offensive leader Morant is considered day-to-day after sustaining a shoulder problem in the game against Indiana last time out.
TEAM1 possible starting 5:
Joe, Wiggins, Hartenstein, Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander
TEAM2 possible starting 5:
Bane, Morant, Edey, Wells, Jackson
We say: Oklahoma City Thunder to win by 5+ points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies are two of the most dominant sides in the West this term and we anticipate a thrilling matchup at the Paycom Center. Gilgeous-Alexander has been in red-hot form for OKC this term and we see the 26-year-old leading the home side to another victory to cap off what has been a successful year.
Joshua Ojele
