Bear Necessities
The Memphis Grizzlies will play their 60th game of the season, their last before the NBA All-Star break, when they matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers for the fourth and final time this season…
Memphis’ 41-18 record is the third-best in the NBA this season, and the team’s 41 victories are its most ever before All-Star Weekend. Memphis has scored 120+ points in every game during its 6-0 February, the longest such streak in franchise history… The Grizzlies’ six-game streak with 120+ points is the longest by any NBA team this season. The Grizzlies have won six in a row and nine of their last 10, leading seven of those wins by 19+ points… Memphis, which has held a 20-point lead in all of its last five contests, has not lost at FedExForum in over a month (four-game home winning streak since a Jan. 14 loss to Dallas). Ja Morant is the second player in franchise history to be named a starter for the NBA All-Star Game and is slated to become the first guard in club history to participate in the event… Morant is on pace to become the sixth player in league history to average 25+ points per game, 5+ rebounds per game and 5+ assists per game in his age-22 season (or younger), joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Desmond Bane, who will participate in Rising Stars on Friday, also is the fifth player in franchise history to be invited to participate in the 3-Point Contest as part of All-Star Saturday Night, joining Mike Miller, Wesley Person, Mike Bibby and Sam Mack.
Series Records and Current Streaks vs. Opponent (Regular Season)
Overall: 43-54 (Lost 1) Home: 23-25 (Lost 2) Last Win: 12/15/21 Last Home Win: 2/12/20
Connections
Grizzlies guard/forward Dillon Brooks played three seasons at the University of Oregon, where he led the Ducks to the 2017 NCAA Final Four, the school’s first since 1939… Brooks was named the 2017 Pac-12 Player of the Year as a junior. Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Affairs Tayshaun Prince and Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups won an NBA championship in 2004 as teammates on the Detroit Pistons. Trail Blazers guard Ben McLemore played 56 games (17 starts) for the Grizzlies during the 2017-18 season. Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow appeared in 26 games (one start) for the Grizzlies during the 2020-21 season… Winslow teamed with Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones at Duke during the 2014-15 season. Trail Blazers assistant coach Roy Rogers played 82 games (50 starts) for the 1996-97 Vancouver Grizzlies and averaged 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.00 blocks. Prior to coming to Memphis, Grizzlies TV play‐by‐play announcer Pete Pranica spent five seasons (1999‐2004) with the Trail Blazers, including the last four as their television play‐by‐play announcer. Grizzlies senior director of content and broadcast production Scott Zachry also worked for Portland before joining the Grizzlies.
