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Grizzlies on a five-game winning run ahead of the derby match

While home team believes in their starting points guard Conley's comeback, Oklahoma is basically praying for Kevin Durant's recovery. They are scoring 94.5 points when he's injured, which is 11.2 less than when he's in the game

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Memphis are starting to look like that team from season's start more. They won 21 out of the first 25 games but then went on a 4-7 record caused by the absence of Zack Randolph who missed 9 games. With him back on the team, Grizzlies won 9 out of the last 10 games, which got them back to the runner up spot in the table.

Their possibly best performance of the season took place Thursday when they demolished the Nuggets 99-69 home to get back at the Denver-based team for the tough 114-85 defeat from their bad period. The very opening of the game made it clear it will be a blowout. Joerger's team was in a 26-11 lead 12 minutes into the game and finished 33 points up.

- We're happy that we were able to step out there and get back to them for the nasty defeat in Denver. Those kind of defeats hurt - said Tony Allen, who got back after being sidelined with an injury for two games.

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Not even less minutes on the floor prevented Randolph from recording a double-double (15+17), while Jeff Green added 13 points (4-for-9) which is pretty much his average since joining Memphis. 

They limited the Nuggets to shooting efficiency of only 33.3%, including 2-for-26 record in three pointers. Memphis have been limiting their opponents to 84.4 points and 23.3% of three pointers in the last five wins, which is a much better than 102.3 points and 38.4% of three pointers their opponents had in the previous 21 game.

- I think we found rhythm and got back to our true identity which has a lot to do with defense. We are playing through our tall guys and they read the opponents and make the right decisions - Courtney Lee said. 

Grizzlies' winning streak is even more impressive if we know that Mike Conely missed the last two games with an injury and remains questionable even though he is expected to get back today. Vince Carter will probably be out for a while with a foot injury and since he's nowhere near his last season's performances, that won't hurt Grizzlies' offensive end significantly.

Oklahoma have a lot more reason to be worried, with Durant's constant injury struggles not helping in their race for playoffs. He missed the last two games with a toe injury and while his absence went unnoticed in Minneapolis, Thunder recorded an unexpected slip in New York to leave the big apple with a 92-100 defeat in spite of Russell Westbrook's 40 points (13-for-30).

- We don't have as much room for a mistake when Kevin is not on the floor. He is clearly one of the top players in the world and its not easy to make up for his contributions on the floor - coach Scott Brooks said.

His team are on a 9-16 record without Durant, scoring only 94.5 points in those games, which is 11.2 less than when he's there. It's still not known whether Durantula will play today but if we had to guess, we'd say he would because Oklahoma can't afford many more defeats. His playing or not will actually be crucial for this game. If he's there, things will be close, while without him Memphis shouldn't have too much trouble. Durant was scoring 35.0 points in the last three head-to-head matches.