Utah @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 15, 2019 ) Utah 106, Memphis 107

Ja Morant outplayed Mike Conley in the latter's return to Memphis on Nov. 15 and he will try to do it again when the Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz on Friday. Morant, the No. 2 overall pick who replaced Conley as the Memphis point guard, had 25 points and eight assists in the Grizzlies' 107-106 victory in their first matchup.

Conley, who was a star for the Grizzlies for 12 seasons, got caught up in the hoopla of his return and scored 15 points on porous 5-of-19 shooting. He said after the contest that he won't make the same mistake -- "Next time I come back, it truly is all business. I'm not going to be talking to everybody," Conley said. His second time back comes in the midst of a frigid stretch in which he is averaging 7.3 points on 6-of-27 shooting, including just five points in Wednesday's 121-102 road loss to the Indiana Pacers. Memphis has lost five straight games since the dramatic win over Utah, including Wednesday's 121-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in which it blew a 10-point lead with 6:48 remaining.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (11-7): Utah has allowed an average of 121.5 points while losing the first two games of a five-game road trip to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers and coach Quin Snyder was displeased with the effort during the 19-point setback against Indiana. "We need to be better," Snyder told reporters. "I thought they were the more aggressive team and that showed by the way they attacked the basket." Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and he has topped 25 in six of the past eight games.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (5-12): The flashy Morant had 20 points and 11 assists against the Clippers for his second straight double-double and third of the season. Center Jonas Valanciunas contributed season highs of 30 points and 16 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season but his monster outing couldn't get Memphis over the hump. "We have to get better from it and we have to know this stuff is important for us to move forward and get better from it," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said after the setback.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Grizzlies have won the past two meetings and four of the past five.

2. Memphis F Kyle Anderson (heel) sat out Wednesday but hopes to return Friday.

3. Utah C Rudy Gobert (ankle) returned from a two-game absence and had 14 points and 13 rebounds against Indiana.

PREDICTION: Jazz 110, Grizzlies 105