Golden State @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2019 ) Golden State 117, Memphis 132

The Memphis Grizzlies are showing signs of growing up, but some results make it obvious they have a ways to go before becoming a contender. The Golden State Warriors, who visit Memphis on Tuesday, wasted little time going from contender to the NBA basement amid a handful of departures and a steady stream of injuries.

With another big name in D'Angelo Russell (hand) sidelined Sunday, Golden State dropped a 108-100 decision to the Pelicans for its seventh consecutive defeat, the team's longest since the 2011-12 season. "There are some funky lineups that are out there because of our injuries and we're short on shooting," Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has started 11 different players, told reporters. "If you can't spread the floor shooting, you've got to be able to play with pace and make all the cuts. You've got to play faster. You have to get stops defensively so you can run." The Grizzlies won three straight before they were overmatched in a 131-114 loss to Denver on Sunday to fall to 1-1 on their current four-game homestand. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way in the loss with 22 points while making 5-of-7 3-pointers.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (2-12): Russell, the team's leading scorer at 24.3 points per game, sprained a thumb in a loss to Boston on Friday and is expected to miss at least two weeks of action. Rookie forward Eric Paschall is among those taking advantage of the opportunity for more playing time and he hit the 30-point mark for the second time in his young career at New Orleans on Sunday. Fellow first-year player Ky Bowman tied his personal best with 19 points against the Pelicans while going 8-for-16 from the floor.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (5-8): Memphis stayed with Denver early and late but was done in by a 44-17 second quarter in favor of the Nuggets, a period that exposed the gap between the two squads. "They raised their level to an elite level, and our guys just couldn't really catch that second gear. It just wasn't our day," coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. "We tried to claw back here and there, but that second quarter kind of got away from us." Rookie Brandon Clarke continued to shine for the Grizzlies by making all eight of his shots and the Gonzaga product is 37-for-50 from the field over his last six games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SG Jordan Poole is 1-for-15 from the floor over the last two games while missing all eight of his 3-point tries.

2. The Grizzlies have made at least 10 3-pointers in seven straight games, tied for the longest streak in franchise history.

3. Golden State won the first three meetings last season before Memphis took the finale 132-117 while setting a franchise record for points in a half (86).

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 118, Warriors 109