Memphis @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2020 ) Memphis 123, Sacramento 128

The Memphis Grizzlies are positioned nicely as they resume play after the All-Star break by visiting the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Memphis not only is a surprising two games above .500 but it currently holds the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference by four games over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Grizzlies looked like they were facing a long rebuilding job during the latter stages of last season but the selection of point guard Ja Morant sped up the process and created excitement throughout the organization. Memphis won 15 of its past 19 games behind the dazzling play of Morant, who owns averages of 17.6 points and 7.1 assists while being the faraway leader for NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Sacramento lost its final two games prior to the All-Star break and has a four-game road trip looming after the contest versus the Grizzlies. The Kings are in 13th place in the West - seven games behind Memphis - and seem destined to miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season.

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, NBCS California, NBA TV Canada

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (28-26): Memphis may be a hot club but it will be tested coming out of the All-Star break with a four-game trip and seven of nine contests on the road. The current excursion also calls for two games in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers with the finale against the Houston Rockets, and a three-game trip to Atlanta, Brooklyn and Dallas looms in early March. Getting shooting guard Dillon Brooks back on track is a priority after he was 27-of-88 (30.7 percent) over the last six games with a high outing of 15 points.

ABOUT THE KINGS (21-33): Sacramento allowed an average of 126.5 points while losing road games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks to end play before the break. The Kings displayed life with six wins in an eight-game stretch prior to those losses but even that run only lifted the club to 10 games below .500. Shooting guard Buddy Hield has been unhappy since being moved to a reserve role but the sharpshooter was 51-of-104 over the past 10 games and then won the 3-Point Contest during the All-Star Saturday night festivities.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two games earlier this season but the Kings took five of the past seven meetings.

2. Sacramento PG De'Aaron Fox is 10-of-35 shooting over the past two games.

3. Morant scored 20 or more points in three of the last four contests prior to the break.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 112, Kings 103