Memphis @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2018 ) Memphis 123, Oklahoma City 137

Russell Westbrook is looking to post his eighth consecutive triple-double when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. Westbrook's stellar play has fueled a run that has seen the Thunder win eight of their last nine games.

Westbrook had 16 points, 16 assists and 15 rebounds in Tuesday's 132-122 home win over the Orlando Magic to record seven straight triple-doubles for the third time in his career, and he stands two behind record-holder Wilt Chamberlain (1967-68). "He's a floor general. He sees everything. He gets everyone involved," shooting guard Terrance Ferguson told reporters. "You need to stop him to stop us, and he's hard to guard, especially when he's in the attack mode like that." Memphis has won two straight games after losing 17 of its 19 and is dealing with distractions as the club's longtime stalwarts in point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol could be traded prior to Thursday's trading deadline. "A lot of the guys that are on this team now have no idea what we went through for 12 seasons," Conley told reporters, referencing himself and Gasol (11 seasons). "We started at the bottom and got almost all the way to the top."

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

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (22-23): Conley was superb with 25 points, nine assists and three steals in Tuesday's 108-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in what might have been his final home game with Memphis. Gasol was held out for rest with trade talks buzzing but Conley was enjoying the visuals and surveying the scene and said the situation was surreal. "It would cross my mind almost every timeout," Conley told reporters afterward. "Look into the crowd. Be looking back at the bench. Looking at coaches and players and seeing my wife and kids in the stands in the same spot they've been in for 12 seasons. It was all just trying to take it all in and enjoy it."

ABOUT THE THUNDER (34-19): Westbrook is averaging 20 points, 14.4 assists and 13.2 rebounds during his triple-double streak and has recorded at least 14 assists in six of the contests. Star forward Paul George is also on a stellar surge with five straight games of at least 36 points and an average of 38.4 points while helping fuel the hot stretch. "It is a long season. We are going to have ups and downs," George told reporters. "End of the day, we are learning as we go. Taking it one game at a time. Games are going to get away from us. Majority of the time, this group knows what is working. We get to it. We figure out ways to win games regardless."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Thunder won the past seven meetings.

2. Oklahoma City F Jerami Grant had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Orlando for his third double-double of the season.

3. Memphis rookie F Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 points versus Minnesota for his 10th 20-point outing of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Thunder 115, Grizzlies 100