The Memphis Grizzlies (12-2) come to Staples Center on Thanksgiving eve tied with the Toronto Raptors for the best record in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers (3-11), in sharp contrast, have only won one home game four weeks into the season.
On paper, Wednesday night could turn ugly as one of the worst teams in the NBA hosts, arguably, the best team in the league. However, these teams met in Memphis about two weeks earlier, and the Grizzlies squeaked out a narrow victory. In LA, the story could easily have a different ending.
With rumors blazing that former Lakers forward Earl Clark could be on his way back to the team in the wake of Xavier Henry's torn Achilles, the injury headline has, once again, taken a strangle hold of the purple and gold.
In a rare twist, the Lakers received positive news on their walking wounded on Wednesday morning. In the days leading up to Wednesday's game, forwards Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis were struggling with shoulder and ankle injuries, respectively. However, both appear to have recovered and should be available on Wednesday night.
"They went through shootaround," Lakers coach Byron Scott said on Wednesday morning. "They both moved pretty well, so I take it that they'll both be available tonight unless something drastically changes in the next seven, eight hours."
The coach confirmed that Boozer would return to the starting lineup. Davis started for the Lakers against the Denver Nuggets, but the 25-year-old forward had trouble staying on the court and fouled out in only 22 minutes. Davis, who has been a standout off the bench, continues to lead the team in field goal percentage.
Although Boozer may not be a defensive stalwart at age 33, the veteran big man put together a string of positive performances prior to sitting out a game with the shoulder injury. On the Lakers' recent three-game road trip, Boozer averaged 14.7 points on 52.5 percent shooting from the field.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Scott also expanded on his approach of resting star shooting guard Kobe Bryant in between games. On Wednesday morning, the coach said that he made sure Bryant did not take part in any physical activity in the hopes that his body will be able to sustain through the latter part in games.
The Lakers and Grizzlies tip off at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
