The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder are playing live on the ESPN NBA schedule on Friday from Chesapeake Energy Arena and the game starts up at 8 pm ET and will be from OKC and streaming on the WatchESPN website and Marc Gasol will matchup with the team and they will be without stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Memphis comes into the game undefeated after winning over the Phoenix Suns and they will play against the Milwaukee Bucks after matching up with the OKC Thunder. The team comes into the game at first in the league in points allowed per game and they should be able to win this game with the Thunder down their two stars. Mike Conley had 24 points and 11 assists against the Suns, while Zach Randolph had six rebounds to lead the team.
The Thunder come into the game after a loss to the Toronto Raptors and they are just 1-4 on the season and next will play the Sacramento Kings after matching up with the Grizz. Memphis comes in at 5-0 on the season and they have been playing well, while the Thunder have had to rely on Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson with Durant and Westbrook out. Ibaka had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to the Raptors, while Jackson led the team with 14 assists.
Memphis has been one of the best teams in the league and with the way the Thunder have started the season, this should be a win for Marc Gasol and company. The Grizz are ranked as the top team in the league in defense and while they are in the bottom half in scoring, they have not needed it that much and they have looked like one of the most balanced teams in the league. Gasol is an elite player and Conley is putting himself into the conversation as one of the best guards in the league.
The Thunder have just been killed with injuries and they are not even scoring 90 points per game and while they will get Durant and Westbrook back eventually, the team may be in a deep hole by then. The team is going to be off to a tough start no matter what happens and they have a number of other players on the injury list along with Durant and Westbrook. Gasol will be the player to watch and he comes in after putting up 18 points, six assists and four steals and he will be a front runner for defensive player of the year again.
The western conference has some great teams this season and the Grizzlies are right there with the Clippers and Warriors as well as the Spurs. The Rockets have started off hot and Memphis is a team to watch.
Check here for the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder live coverage.
