The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to make one final push for the postseason with just a handful of games left in the regular season. The team is currently holding on tight to the eighth seed in the West as they continue to try and overcome injuries while riding Russell Westbrook's potential MVP season. Getting a game against the Memphis Grizzlies could certainly help as they have struggled with scoring in recent games.
If the Thunder get into the playoffs it is because of Westbrook. The point guard continues to prove he is worth the MVP title as he averages 31.9 points, 10.4 assists and 9.2 rebounds over his last 17 games. 3-point shooting has been an issue as he has gone 3 for 18 over the past two games, but all-in-all, the Thunder are benefitting from Westbrook considering how many people they are missing on the roster.
The Thunder are fresh off a loss to the Dallas Mavericks despite Westbrook putting up 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Anthony Morrow added a season-high 32 points while Enes Kanter had another 30. However, the Thunder have been struggling on defense lately, causing them to drop their last three of four games. Oklahoma City needs to improve as the New Orleans Pelicans are just 1 1/2 games behind as the team has games against Houston and San Antonio coming up. They are giving up 110.4 points per game in a 15-game stretch while the Mavericks shot 61.5 percent.
The Grizzlies will be a good chance for Oklahoma City to try and improve in that effort as Memphis is averaging just 88.3 points per game in their last three meeting. The Thunder seem to have their number as they have limited Memphis to shooting just 37.2 percent. The Grizzlies are fresh off a win over Sacramento as they fell to Cleveland, Golden State and San Antonio before thanks to a defense that gave up 107.0 points per game. Memphis has a spot in the postseason, but cannot afford a late-season slide.
