Portland Trail Blazers vs Memphis Grizzlies: Lineups, preview & prediction 3/28/18


(Photo credit: Another Believer)

Portland (46-28) continue to fend off the masses for third place in the Western Conference. They've opened a 2.5-game lead over Oklahoma City for the Northwest Division crown with eight games to play after a 107-103 victory at New Orleans on Tuesday night.

Damian Lillard scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and added nine rebounds, six assists and four steals for good measure as the Trail Blazers have won back-to-back games and 15 of their last 17 overall. Jusuf Nurkic added 21 points and ten boards as Portland overcame a three-for-19 shooting start and ten for 32 shooting overall from 3-point range.

While Memphis (20-54) have won just twice in their last six games on the heels of a 19-game skid, it is who they have beaten that's raised eyebrows. The Grizzlies ended their skid with a 101-94 victory over Denver on March 17, and then snapped a four-game losing streak Monday night in a more surprising fashion, beating Minnesota 101-93 on the road.

Wayne Selden Jr. hit four of six from 3-point range and scored 23 points off the bench, while Marc Gasol added 20 and ten rebounds for Memphis, whose 15 3-pointers matched a season high as they snapped an 18-game road losing streak.

The Grizzlies have not won back-to-back games since a three-game run from January 15-19.

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