The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors will showcase their new-look squads when they face off in an NBA Cup game Friday night in San Francisco.
The Grizzlies are making their first NBA Cup appearance of the season, while the Warriors aim for a second consecutive home win in West Group C play after rallying to beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-117 in Klay Thompson’s return to San Francisco on Tuesday.
Memphis will be without injured Ja Morant (hip) and GG Jackson II (foot), and Desmond Bane (oblique) is questionable to return after a seven-game absence. The Grizzlies did get Marcus Smart back for their 128-123 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, where Smart had 15 points and six assists in 23 minutes off the bench after missing six games.
Despite their injury issues, the Grizzlies have been putting up big numbers this year, scoring 131, 128, 134, and 123 points in their past four games, winning three of them. However, they gave up a season-high-tying 128 points against the Lakers, including 38 while falling behind by as many as 13 in the first quarter.
Memphis will face a Warriors team that now includes two familiar faces: De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, both of whom played for the Grizzlies when they took Golden State to six games in the Western Conference semifinals in 2022.
The Grizzlies will not have to face Melton, as the Warriors announced Thursday that the guard sprained his left ACL in the Tuesday win. He will undergo additional testing to determine the extent of his absence.
Melton’s injury is a significant blow given his recent strong play. After returning from a back injury, Melton recorded his first Golden State double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Oklahoma City on Sunday, followed by 14 points in the Tuesday victory over the Mavericks. Melton is averaging 10.3 points in 20.2 minutes while shooting 40.7 percent from the field over six games (two starts) this season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not specify who would replace Melton in the starting lineup.
Buddy Hield (17.6 points per game, second on the team) and Jonathan Kuminga (14.7 points per game, tied for third) are potential candidates.
Like the Grizzlies, the Warriors have increased their scoring pace this season. The 120 points they scored against Dallas marked their seventh game of 120 or more points this season. Golden State is 7-0 in those games.
