The Grizzlies (6-13) wrap up the first of four back-to-back sets they’ll play this month when the Indiana Pacers (12-7) visit FedExForum on Monday.
Bear Necessities is a spotlight on key Grizzlies’ facts and trends, curated from Communication Manager Ross Wooden’s Game Notes, to stay informed entering tonight's matchup.
Here are a few things to watch:
- The Grizzlies look to sweep a back-to-back set for the first time since Nov. 18-19, 2018 when Memphis also won a road game at Minnesota and then returned home to defeat the Dallas Mavericks the following night. The Grizzlies is also looking to win consecutive games for the first time since beating the Spurs, Hornets and Jazz in mid-November. Monday marks the first of four back-to-back sets the Grizzlies will play in December, which are the most of any month this season.
- Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks has averaged 22.3 points in six Grizzlies wins compared to 9.2 points in 13 losses. During those wins, Brooks has shot .511 percent from the field and .559 percent from three-point range. In the losses, the third-year swingman has shot .319 percent from the field overall and .294 on threes. Memphis is 5-0 this season when Brooks has scored at least 20 points, but is winless in eight games when he scores in single digits. Brooks scored a game-high 26 points Sunday against Minnesota.
- Memphis has been getting a big boost from beyond the arc from two veterans in the rotation. Starting small forward Jae Crowder has made 43 three-pointers through the first 19 games this season. The franchise record for threes made through a player’s first 20 games played in a single season is 46 by Mike Conley, set during Conley’s first 20 games played during the 2016-17 season. Meanwhile, reserve forward Solomon Hill has shot .600 percent from three-point range in his last three contests.
- The Grizzlies and Pacers meet for the second time in as many weeks, with Indiana winning 126-114 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 25. Memphis must do a better job of defending the three-point line than it did a week ago, when the Pacers shot 54.5 percent from three-point range, having connected on a season-best 18 attempts on 33 shots from beyond the arc. The 126 points were also the most the Pacers have scored in a game this season.
- The Grizzlies list guard Ja Morant (back soreness), forward Kyle Anderson (heel) and forward Brandon Clarke (hip) as out, and center Jonas Valanciunas (illness) is a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the Pacers. For the Pacers, guard Victor Oladipo (knee) and guard Edmond Sumner (hand) are out against the Grizzlies.
For the Grizzlies complete game notes, check here: Grizzlies Game Notes