Denver @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 12, 2018 ) Memphis 78, Denver 87

The Denver Nuggets are trying to earn a spot in the top eight of the Western Conference and can not afford a three-game losing streak after falling to the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Lucky for the Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies, who host Denver on Friday, have been nothing but accommodating when it comes to helping opponents find wins.

The Nuggets are only a half-game ahead of the Clippers for the No. 8 spot after squandering a 19-point lead in Tuesday's 122-120 setback. "We now lose our head-to-head series against the Clippers," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "That's huge. ... To be up 19 at home. We've got to close that game out. So, if this one doesn't sting, I don't know what's going to happen in these last 21 games. If it does sting, which I imagine it will, we'll go on this road trip with a business mentality and come back with a couple more wins." The Nuggets shouldn't have any trouble with the Grizzlies, who are losers of 11 in a row and went winless in February. "There's always a lower level that you reach, but you have to reset," Memphis center Marc Gasol told reporters after a 110-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. "Obviously, there are going to be better days, worse days, and for us, it was a frustrating day for me and you want to reset and kind of look at the positive of things and try to help as much as possible and don't let frustration set in, because that is the easy thing to do."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude 2 (Denver), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (33-28): The one good thing to come out of Tuesday's loss was the successful return of power forward Paul Millsap, who scored nine points in 23 minutes off the bench. Millsap, who had been out since Nov. 19 after undergoing wrist surgery, is expected to rejoin the starting rotation soon. That would put him back in the starting frontcourt alongside Nikola Jokic, who attempted only five field goals on Tuesday and finished without at least a double-double for the first time since Feb. 10.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-42): Memphis is developing some young players during all the losing and are getting strong production from 23-year-old shooting guard Andrew Harrison. The Kentucky product scored 20 points in Wednesday's setback and is trying to finish strong. "What I can say is that everyone comes in here and gives it their all every day, so you can't get mad," Harrison told reporters. "You can't point the finger at anybody. We all have to just stick together and finish out the season strong, continue to fight and continue to show that we like the game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SG Tyreke Evans (ribs) sat out the last three games and is questionable for Friday.

2. Nuggets PG Jamal Murray is 15-of-24 from the floor over the last two games.

3. Denver took each of the first two meetings this season -- both at home.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 116, Grizzlies 106