Memphis @ Portland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2018 ) Portland 103, Memphis 108

The Portland Trail Blazers appear to be locked into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference as they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in their penultimate home game of the season. Portland, which is coming off a 105-96 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday for its 16th win in the last 19 games, boasts a three-game lead with six to play over San Antonio for third in the West with a three-game trip to Texas beginning Tuesday.

“We’ve got real faith in what we can accomplish,” the Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard, who averages a team-best 26.6 points, told reporters Friday after recording 17 points and 11 assists. "And I think over time, that’s allowed us to become a really good team.” Memphis won two of the first three of four meetings this season, including a 108-103 victory Wednesday behind a combined 39 points from its Brookses - 21 by MarShon and 18 by Dillon. It was the Grizzlies' third victory in their last 27 games, including a 107-97 loss at Utah at Friday that kicked off a three-game road trip. Lillard missed the Memphis game to witness the birth of his son Thursday - the same day his half-brother was shot multiple times but is in stable condition, according to Lillard.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (21-55): Marc Gasol (17.6 points, 8.2 rebounds per game) scored 28 points, shooting 11-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 from 3-point range, on Friday before sitting out the final 16 minutes with interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff telling reporters: "We'd like our young guys to get better." Memphis has been short-handed in the backcourt with Tyreke Evans missing the last four games because of personal reasons and Andrew Harrison sitting for the last two with shoulder and wrist injuries. MarShon Brooks, a first-round draft pick in the 2011 NBA draft who played the last three seasons with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, is averaging 22.5 points in two games since signing a 10-day contract.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (47-29): CJ McCollum (21.7 points per game) is averaging 34 points versus the Grizzlies this season after pouring in 42 on Wednesday. Jusuf Nurkic (14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds) recorded five double-doubles in his last seven games - increasing his team lead to 23 - and is averaging 17.1 points and 10.3 boards during that span. Al-Farouq Aminu (9.5 points. 7.6 rebounds) is averaging 11.9 points and 9.0 boards over his last eight games with three double-doubles during that span.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lillard had his franchise-record made free throws streak end at 64 when he missed on his third attempt Friday.

2. The Grizzlies, who are last in the NBA in scoring at 98.8 points, are tied for the fewest road wins in the league (six) with Atlanta and lost 29 of their last 32 away from home.

3. Portland F Ed Davis (5.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 18.9 minutes) left Friday's game with eight boards after rolling his ankle in the third quarter.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 116, Grizzlies 98