Memphis @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 14, 2018 ) Oklahoma City 121, Memphis 114

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to finish the regular season on a high note to get the best seed they possibly can and take some momentum into the postseason. The Memphis Grizzlies, who visit the Thunder in the regular season finale on Wednesday, are trying to carry some momentum into their offseason after dropping into the lottery.

Oklahoma City turned in a pair of impressive road wins in the last two games with victories at Houston and Miami to clinch its spot in the Western Conference playoffs and can finish sixth or better with a win on Wednesday. "It's obviously something that we come into the season playing for, that time of the year to get to the ultimate goal," Thunder star point guard Russell Westbrook told reporters of clinching. "Definitely a great blessing with a bunch of great guys." Oklahoma City could finish as high as fourth place in the West and earn homecourt advantage with a win and some help in the finale. The Grizzlies missed out on chances to play spoiler with losses to Utah, Portland, New Orleans and Minnesota among their last six contests and are playing out the string while giving young players long looks.

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

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (22-59): Memphis has been accused of tanking for draft lottery position with some of the lineups it is putting on the floor, but interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff insists that is not the case. "Every time they step on the floor they compete to win and that’s the sign of what you want in your program," Bickerstaff told reporters. "Everybody from the outside can say whatever they want to say, that’s just a distraction. You step on the court every night. ... It’s disrespectful to say those guys are tanking and trying to lose because those guys that are on the floor every night have something to prove. Whether it’s here, whether it's somewhere else, if it's another team, you know, these guys want to stick." Rookie power forward Ivan Rabb is trying to stick and scored 14 points on Monday to reach double figures for the third time in the last four games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (47-34): Westbrook needs 16 rebounds on Wednesday to average a triple-double for the second straight season after grabbing 18 boards in Monday's 115-93 win over the Heat. "He's got a unique ability as a guy that's been able to impact the game with his scoring, his rebounding and his assists, but for me as a coach the most important thing as a coach is can we build off these last two games on the road and play better and make some improvements and strides," Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters. "Just being around Russell, I know he's not wrapped up at all in that stuff. He's more wrapped up in winning." Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in history to average a triple-double last season and would become the first to accomplish the feat in multiple campaigns.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SG MarShon Brooks is averaging 22 points in six games since joining the team.

2. Thunder PF Jerami Grant is shooting 70.4 percent from over the last five games.

3. Oklahoma City took the last six in the series, including a 110-92 home win on Feb. 11.

PREDICTION: Thunder 121, Grizzlies 106