When: February 10, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
This is not a dream; the Nets actually have won two of their last three games. Tonight, Brooklyn will try to win yet another game at home as the Nets host the Memphis Grizzlies (sans Marc Gasol) at Barclays. Brooklyn, on Wednesday night, beat the Denver Nuggets 105-104 thanks to a remarkable banked buzzer-beating three-pointer from none other than Joe Johnson. It was magical.
The Nets actually played well most of that game but found themselves down two with about one second left following a go-ahead layup by Kenneth Faried. Miscommunication between Shane Larkin and Thomas Robinson let Faried get a fairly clean look at the rim. Then, Brooklyn called a timeout before Markel Brown inbounded the ball to Joe, who took a dribble and drilled an off-balance 30-footer over Danilo Gallinari. In a season of heartbreaks, it was a much-needed bright spot.
Memphis hasn’t had as joyous a few days, though. The Grizzlies lost a brutal overtime affair against the Trail Blazers on Monday, two days after falling 114-110 to the Mavericks on Saturday in overtime as well. To make matters worse, Memphis center Marc Gasol was diagnosed with a broken right foot on Tuesday and will be out indefinitely.
It has been a strange season for Dave Joerger’s team, which is currently the No. 5 seed in the West. A disappointing 3-3 start put Joerger, somewhat surprisingly, on the hot seat but the veteran Grizzlies have made do. Now, with the Gasol injury, it’s up to free-agent-to-be Mike Conley and Zach Randolph to hold the ship together.
Probable lineups
MEM- Mike Conley (PG), Courtney Lee (SG), Tony Allen (SF), JaMychal Green (PF), Zach Randolph (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
Regardless of who the Grizzlies decide to start in Gasol’s stead, Brook Lopez should have a big size advantage down low and will likely be who Brooklyn’s offense runs through. Outside of Conley and Randolph, and maybe Jeff Green and former Net Courtney Lee, Memphis doesn’t have much scoring, so this could be a low-scoring affair.
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