Washington @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2019 ) Memphis 128, Washington 135

The losses continue to pile up for the Washington Wizards, but they have a star emerging in forward Davis Bertans. The 27-year-old from Latvia will try to keep his hot streak going when the Wizards continue a three-game road trip at the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

Bertans scored a career-high 32 points in a 114-107 loss at Charlotte on Tuesday to begin the trip, and he is averaging 23.7 points in December while making 36-of-71 3-pointers. "The guy is a bucket-getter," Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters of Bertans. "Every shot is a great shot because it's always squared up. He has a great release. It's such a high release and he's 6-10." The Grizzlies ended a recent road trip with back-to-back wins before returning home to drop a 127-114 decision to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Star rookie Ja Morant sat out the contest due to a back issue that recently caused him to miss four games, but Jaren Jackson Jr. stepped up with a career-high 43 points in the loss.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-16): Bertans' surge has coincided with a slump for star guard Bradley Beal, who is shooting 37.8 percent from the floor in December. Beal missed all seven of his 3-point tries in Tuesday's loss to sink to 25 percent from beyond the arc in the same span. Rui Hachimura recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday for his first double-double since the season opener at Dallas on Oct. 23.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-17): Jackson's big night included a 26-point explosion in the third quarter that put Memphis up by five points on the mighty Bucks entering the fourth. He hit 7-of-9 3-pointers in the quarter and finished 9-of-15 from 3-point range. "Great performances from so many guys," coach Taylor Jenkins told the media. "J.J. had a heck of a night. Super prowd of him and his growth."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wizards PG Isaiah Thomas (calf) has missed four straight games but could return Saturday.

2. Memphis was 18-for-49 inside the arc and 20-for-49 outside of it in Friday's loss.

3. Beal averaged 28.5 points and seven assists as the teams split two meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 119, Wizards 114