Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch against slumping Grizzlies

Brooklyn Nets D'Angelo Russell (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets D'Angelo Russell (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets D’Angelo Russell (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets will try Friday night to end their 4-game homestand with at least 1 win as they host the slumping Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center.

The Brooklyn Nets finish off a four-game homestand Friday night looking to turn things around against the suddenly slumping Memphis Grizzlies for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern tip off from Barclays Center.

The Nets (8-14) have lost all three games thus far during this stretch at home and have dropped five straight at Barclays Center. Brooklyn has also lost its last four games overall.

The Grizzlies (12-8) were one of the NBA’s biggest surprises early, but have lost three in a row after winning five straight.

The big turnaround for Memphis this season has been the health of franchise icons Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Both have played in all 20 games for the Grizzlies thus far, although Gasol is questionable for Friday night with a sore left ankle.

The Nets have some injury concerns as well, as small forward Joe Harris is questionable Friday night due to tightness in his left adductor (I’m old enough to remember when we called that a “hip”).

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If Harris can’t go, coach Kenny Atkinson would likely turn to veteran DeMarre Carroll at the 3 spot. Carroll was the starter at small forward for all 73 games he played last season, but has been coming off the bench since returning from an 11-game absence after surgery on his right ankle.

The Grizzlies have almost matched the 15 wins they had in 63 games under then-interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff last season. Bickerstaff shepherded the club after David Fizdale was fired after a 7-12 start, but Memphis was just 15-48 after the change.

Brooklyn lost its third in a row on this homestand on Wednesday when they were outscored 31-13 in the fourth quarter en route to a 101-91 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Memphis last played Tuesday, losing its third game in a row in a 122-114 loss at home to the Toronto Raptors.

Here are three things to watch as the Nets battle the Grizzlies at Barclays Center Friday night.