It has been four days since the Grizzlies last played a basketball game, which was a 119-96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers to continue their streak of winning seven of their last nine games. Two nights before that saw them defeat the Los Angeles Clippers for the second time in seven days with a 107-98 win at home.
Grizzlies rookie wing Cedric Coward began the season on fire as one of their better bench players, which led to a promotion to the starting lineup. However, despite his positive impact on both ends of the court, his efficiency began to slip, leading him to fall from second in the Kia Rookie Ladder to fourth in consecutive weeks.