PREVIEW: Warriors (65-15) Can Secure Advantageous Playoffs Path With Win Over Depleted Memphis Grizzlies (54-26)

Memphis Grizzlies (54-26) at Golden State Warriors (65-15)

Tip-off: Monday, April 13th, 2015 – 7:30PM PDT

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Grizzlies

PG: Beno Udrih (7.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.8 APG)

SG: Courtney Lee (10.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.0 APG)

SF: Jeff Green (13.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG)

PF: Zach Randolph (16.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.2 APG)

C: Kosta Koufos (5.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.5 APG)

C: Marc Gasol (17.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG)

Head Coach: Dave Joerger (104-58, .642)

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (24.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.7 APG)

SG: Klay Thompson (21.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.9 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (11.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.7 APG)

C: Andrew Bogut (6.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.7 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (65-15, .813)

Last Times Out

LAST WARRIORS GAME: On Saturday, 4/11/2015, the Warriors defeated the Timberwolves, 110-101, as the Splash Brothers combined for 57 points and the Warriors set a new franchise record for home wins in a season.

LAST GRIZZLIES GAME: On Saturday, 4/11/2015, the Clippers defeated the Grizzlies, 94-86, in Los Angeles, as five Clippers scored in double-figures while Marc Gasol went down with a sprained left ankle in the first quarter. Randolph led the depleted Grizzlies with 21 points, 13 rebounds.

LAST WARRIORS-GRIZZLIES MATCHUP: On 3/27/2015, Golden State defeated Memphis, 107-84, in Memphis as Curry scored 38 points and helped the Warriors avenge an earlier season loss.

LAST WARRIORS-GRIZZLIES MATCHUP AT ORACLE: On 3/28/2014, Golden State defeated Memphis, 100-93, as the Warriors scored the last 14 points of the game to come back for the victory. Curry netted 33 points.

Game Notes

• Marc Gasol ankle apparently well enough for him to start tonite. #Warriors #Grizzlies PREVIEW: http://t.co/fmjGxt5xyL pic.twitter.com/9KXr1zqluS

  — Let’s Go Warriors 💦💛💙 (@LetsGoWarriors) April 14, 2015

• “The Memphis Grizzlies could be significantly depleted in their final push for the Southwest Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
  .
  Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Tony Allen‘s status are unknown for the season’s final two games, beginning with Monday night’s matchup against the West regular-season champion Golden State Warriors.
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  Poised to finish anywhere from second to sixth in the West, Memphis (54-26) is also chasing its first division crown in franchise history and attempting to match the franchise-best 56 wins from 2012-13.
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  Reaching those goals could prove challenging if the Grizzlies can’t get healthy quickly. Memphis lost 94-86 on Saturday against one of its other three competitors for second in the West, the Los Angeles Clippers, with Conley (foot) and Allen (hamstring) sitting out from the opening tip.
  .
  Allen, one of the team’s defensive specialists, has been out since March 27 and Conley has missed the past two games.
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  The Grizzles then lost leading scorer Gasol to a sprained left ankle in the first quarter and Beno Udrih was forced to leave after getting hit in the throat but played in the fourth. Coach David Joerger took solace in his short-handed team limiting the Clippers to 39.8 percent shooting and a 6-of-27 performance from 3-point range.” — Alan Ferguson, AP/STATS

• “Spurs win final game and Memphis loses once more OR Houston wins out, and Spurs take SW Division/No. 2 seed.” — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News

• “Leandro Barbosa available to play.” — Diamond Leung