Portland Trailblazers take on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies on Day 2 on the NBA restart. Here is the preview of the game and where to watch the action live.
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Memphis Grizzlies defeated Miami Heat 120-115 in the final scrimmage before the season restarted. They have had a good preseason to shake off the rust and get back into the groove. Portland has not won a single scrimmage before the NBA restarts. They have gone 0-3 and lost their final scrimmage to OKC Thunder 131-120.
The Grizzlies 3-point shooting is also peaking. They hit 18-out-of-40 in their last scrimmage. The last time they played the Trailblazers on Feb 12 at home, the Trailblazers lost the encounter. Both teams look to secure a place in the Western Conference playoffs with a win in their first game back.
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It has been 144 days since either team played meaningful basketball. Sure, the scrimmages help. But, they do not provide you with a do-or-die situation, especially when there are no stakes involved.
The team which has better facilities and the players who have been practising more are going to find it easier to shake off the rust and get back in tandem with their teammates. We have already seen the performance the Grizzlies have put up in the scrimmage. It doesn’t seem like they are still rusty. It looks like they’re raring to start playing competitive basketball.
Where to watch Grizzlies vs Blazers on TV and Online
Fans can watch the NBA action live on one of the following platforms:
- NBA TV
- NBA League pass
- Live steam @ Fubo.tv
- NBC Sports Northwest
- TSN
- FOX Sports South East-Memphis
Grizzlies vs Blazers Preview
The matchup between Damian Lillard and Ja Morant is the spectacle many of the fans are waiting to witness. The favoured rookie-of-the-year has already contributed significantly to the success of the Grizzlies this season. He averages17.6 points and nearly 7 assists per game.
The Trailblazers will hope that Lillard will get back to form today. The all-star was averaging a career-best 28.9 points and 7.8 assists per game before the season was suspended.
Team injury news
Both Memphis and Portland have got a few of their players back due to the coronavirus hiatus. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke, who were both out in March, are back in addition to Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins. Portland might find protecting the wings a bit tougher as Trevor Ariza opted out of the restart due to personal reasons.
For the Grizzlies, shooting guard Grayson Allen and power-forward Jontay Porter are back in the squad.
Predicted Line-up
Portland Trailblazers: Whiteside, Anthony, Lillard, Collins, Nurkic
Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jonas Valanciunas.
