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Nuggets vs. Grizzlies

By Evan Wheeler

Feb 29, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) guards Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Nuggets 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) guards Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Nuggets 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Matchup: Denver Nuggets (31-44) at Memphis Grizzlies (41-33)

Location: FedExForum – Memphis, TN

Time: Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. MT

How to Watch: Altitude

Betting Line (per Bovada): Grizzlies by 2

Projected Starting Lineups:

Denver – PG Emmanuel Mudiay, SG Gary Harris, SF JaKarr Sampson, PF Kenneth Faried, C Nikola Jokic

Memphis – PG Jordan Farmar, SG Tony Allen, SF Matt Barnes, PF JaMychal Green, C Chris Andersen

The Nuggets will take on the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday night, in a matchup of two teams looking to end losing streaks. Memphis is still holding onto their playoff hopes this season, sitting at fifth currently in the always loaded Western Conference. The Grizzlies have been bitten by the injury bug possibly worse than any other team this season. They lost arguably their two best players in Marc Gasol (foot) and Mike Conley (achilles) to season ending injuries. Memphis was staying afloat without Gasol, going 7-3 up untill Conley’s injury where things have just been sinking since. The Grizzlies have gone 4-8 without Conley in twelve games since his injury, currently riding a three game losing streak.

Denver has had their own struggles of late, losing two in a row and face a Memphis team that’s had their number this year. The Grizzlies are seeking the season series sweep here of the Nuggets, winning the previous meeting in Memphis 91-84. Every game has been competitive though, Memphis has won by an average of only 5.0 points per game this season against Denver. The Nuggets have struggled with two things primarily against the Grizzlies this season; fouling too much and losing the turnover battle. Denver has committed a total of 75 fouls in three games against Memphis, 17 more than the Grizzlies have committed against them. Memphis has won the turnover battle by a even wider margin of 46-27, committing 19 less turnovers than Denver.

This game also has fairly big draft implications for both teams, as Denver, owns the rights to Memphis’ first round pick for the next two seasons. However, it is heavily protected this year, staying with Memphis if it falls anywhere from picks 1-5 or 15-30. The Nuggets get the pick this year if it falls anywhere from 6-14, meaning they need Memphis to continue their freefall and to drop out of the playoffs. This is a long shot even if Denver wins this game and the Nuggets are probably better off hoping the pick conveys next year. The 2017 Draft class is far superior to 2016’s and the protection on the Grizzlies pick is far less next year, conveying to the Nuggets as long as it isn’t a top five selection.

However, if Denver beats Memphis tonight, it would drop their record to 41-34 and put them only four games ahead of the eighth seeded Houston Rockets and ninth seeded Dallas Mavericks(if they beat New York tonight). This is plausible given the incredibly tough final seven games the Grizzlies finish the season with. They face the Clippers, Raptors, Mavericks, Bulls and Warriors twice to end the season, six games they easily could lose given their recent struggles.

Player to Watch: Zach Randolph

Randolph is hoping to return Wednesday night against Denver, after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. The month of March has not been kind to Z-Bo, he’s missed nine games this month due to nagging knee and ankle injuries. Randolph has given the Nuggets fits this season though, averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the free throw line, in three games against Denver. He bullies just about anybody in the Nuggets frontcourt not named Jusuf Nurkic and would make things much more difficult for Denver tonight if he plays.

Both teams are without their best players respectively in the final meeting between the two, making it harder to predict an outcome here. This really is a win-win for the Nuggets, benefiting from either a victory or defeat. I think the Nuggets get stuck in a sluggish game at the FedExForum with the Grizzlies, struggling with fouling and turnovers once again. I’ll take Memphis in a ugly one, although this is a very winnable game for Denver.

Final Score Prediction: Nuggets 93, Grizzlies 99

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