Game of the Week
Tuesday: Grizzlies vs Blazers, 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Arena (CSN)
Key matchup: If Zach Randolph can get past the “day-to-day” status with his sprained ankle, then maybe the Z-Bo vs. LMA matchup will finally take place this season. Though the Grizzlies and Blazers have played twice in Memphis (Jan. 4 and March 6), the two friends and former teammates have yet to face off. Maybe LaMarcus Aldridge is just waiting for Randolph to appear in the lineup so that he can play like his usual All-Star self against Memphis. In the two games versus the Grizzlies, Aldridge has averaged 12 points and shot just 25 percent from the floor — both ranking as his second lowest offensive statistics against an opponent this season.
Key stat: This will be the first time back home after a three-game road trip, and the Blazers are 1-3 this season when returning to the Rose Garden after an extended road trip.
To win: The Blazers must show up in the fourth quarter. During the Jan. 4 game, Portland squeaked out the 86-84 win in spite of a low-scoring final quarter. And just this past week, the 26-18 fourth-quarter disparity cost the Blazers their lead and the game. Last Wednesday, the Blazers only made five field goals in the fourth quarter, succumbing to Memphis’ stifling defense.
By the Numbers
The number of times that pass-first point guard Eric Maynor has reached the 20-point plateau in his four-year career. On Friday in San Antonio, Maynor came off the bench and scored 20 points — just four shy of his career high set during his rookie season in Utah (Nov. 14, 2009).Number of Blazers who played the second half against the San Antonio Spurs with positive plus/minus outcomes. The statistic measures a player’s contribution to the team’s point differential.Span of days between backup center Jared Jeffries’ time on the court. Before the March 8 game against the Spurs, Jeffries last played on Feb. 19 in a loss to Phoenix and only got in for 3 minutes and 4 seconds.
