Portland still has a game to play before this one: at the Lakers on Tuesday. That game decides what the Blazers look like when they get home Thursday. Scoot Henderson was listed questionable for it with left ankle soreness, and backup center Branden Carlson was still in concussion protocol. If either one is still out after the Lakers game, Nori's rotation gets thinner, and Portland also has a short turnaround from Los Angeles back to the Moda Center. Memphis has had 2 days off by the time this one tips.
The 4-0 is real, but none of it has come easy. Golden State took Memphis to the final possession in a 111-108 game. In Utah the Grizzlies led by 13 going into the 4th quarter and still had to sweat out the finish. The Jazz won that quarter 29-21 after losing Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. during the game. Memphis has led a lot and closed out shakily. Against a backcourt of Lillard and Morant, a 4th-quarter lead is a much less safe place to be than it was in Salt Lake City.
The game itself comes down to Jerome against the guards who replaced the one Memphis traded away. If Jerome keeps scoring like he has for 4 games, the Grizzlies have a real answer to Portland's backcourt. If Morant and Lillard turn it into a shootout, Memphis has to win it on depth, and depth is what the Grizzlies got back in the Morant trade. Tipoff is 7:00 PM PT at the Moda Center.