Memphis Grizzlies are only two matches from second place at the Western conference.
And they are only four matches over the best play-in spot.
In the jam -filled west, every game is important, and Grizzlies will try to win a victory on Sunday evening against the low Pelicans in New Orleans.
Grizzlies finished a seasonal four-game losing line when they beat Maverick’s 122-111 on Friday night in Dallas.
“Our mentality must switch,” said guard Desmond Bane at Memphis’ TeleCast after the game. “We play for something and continue to get better and hold together.”
“Ever since I have been here, we have been a resilient group,” said Bane, who is in his fifth season in Memphis.
Grizzlies had to overcome the absence of forward Jaren Jackson Jr. And his team -leading 22.7 points per match. He will miss his third game in a row on Sunday due to an ankle injury.
In addition to scoring 27 points against Dallas, Bane had 16 returns. It was the third time in the last four matches that Bane has had at least 10 returns, and he has on average on average 11 boards and 25.3 points during that route.
“I’m just trying to do what the team needs,” Bane said. “I’m trying to make winning games on both ends of the floor. That’s what we need right now.”
Grizzlies needed a strong defensive fourth quarter to win in Dallas. They allowed 94 points through three blocks and dragged out five who entered the fourth before surpassing Maverick’s 33-17 during the final period.
“Our defense is something we have really talked about the past week or two,” Bane said, “and it came great for us along the route.”
Memphis will try to complete a sweep of the season series against New Orleans, after winning the first three meetings with an average of 10.7 points.
On Saturday night, the Pelicans saw another opponent ending a sweep of the season series in a loss of 146-117 to Rockets in Houston. Rockets got the most points in some opponent in New Orleans this season and got at least 35 points during each quarter to complete a four-game-sweep with an average victory margin of 19.5 points.
“They were the tougher team,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “Honestly, they just punched us all night, just across the line, especially on the defensive side. I’m also included in it. Our attitude to the game was bad.”
Green said he was glad that his team has such a quick turn to “try to shake that funk”, even though he acknowledged the challenge that Memphis presents.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Green said. “Law will not feel sorry for us. We must have a better approach. We did not bring it. We must make a commitment that every game we should step on the floor and attack.”
Zion Williamson, who led the Pelicans with 20 points against Houston on Saturday, did not play in any of the first three matches against Grizzlies. It is uncertain if he will play Sunday because he has not yet played in the following nights since he returned from a hamstring injury in early January.
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