With Gasol Back, Grizzlies Rolling Again

The Memphis Grizzlies seem to have their mojo back, mostly because they have their Gasol back.

Marc Gasol, Pau's little brother, missed most of the early part of the season with an injury but returned to the Grizzlies' lineup the last time Memphis played in Oklahoma City, a game the Grizzlies won.

They've been winning most everything since.

Memphis has won 11 of their last 12 games, hotter even than the Thunder have been lately. And since gasol has returned the Grizzlies' defense has grown fangs again, allowing a meere 87 points a game. That's 10 points less than what they were giving up while Gasol was out.

OKC lost once again in Washington, DC (three straight losses in the nation's capital) to snap the Thunder's 10 game winning streak so Oklahoma City now has wins in 10 of it's last 11.

Tonight the Grizzlies will likely be without their outstanding point guard, Mike Conley. Conley sprained an ankle the other night and is not expected to play tonight.

Courtney Lee was the biggest thorn in the Thunder's side last time, he'd just been acquired in a trade with Boston and came in and shot the lights out inside The Peake, finishing with 24 points.

You can bet this time aroun d the Thunder will devote a lot of attention to Lee, especially with Conley on the bench.

This looks to be another one of those mental games for the Thunder, smilar to last week' showdown with Miami.

The Thunder have struggled lately with the Grizz, having lost four of the last six at home and eight of the last 11 overall. Memphis of course ended the Thunder's year last season by winning the playoff series.

The Thunder would love to be able to square things back up a little bit with a win tonight.

The team will have shootaround later this morning at their practice facility before heading down to The Peake.

Click back later today for both pre and postgame coverage.