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Wizards vs. Grizzlies preview: Washington faces Memphis in first game back from All-Star break

The Wizards cannot let Ja Morant put up 35 points again. Morant is averaging 19.8 points per game this season.

Memphis Grizzlies v Washington Wizards Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Game Info

When: Wednesday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

How to watch: NBC Sports Washington

Injury Report

Wizards: Ish Smith (Quad, Out); Thomas Bryant (Knee, Out)

Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Knee, Game-Time Decision); Grayson Allen (Concussion, Game-Time Decision)

Pregame notes

The Washington Wizards (14-20) are matching up against the Memphis Grizzlies (16-16) for the second time in 8 days. In their first matchup of the season, the Grizzlies won 125-111. In that victory, Ja Morant led his team with a stellar 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists. Dillon Brooks and De’Anthony Melton added 20 points each.

For the Wizards, Russell Westbrook had a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds while Memphis’ defense kept Bradley Beal below his scoring average to 23 points. The Wizards had 22 turnovers that game compared to the Grizzlies’ 11. They were also outrebounded and struggled from the downtown (35.5 percent).

Beal is coming off a great performance at All-Star weekend, where he led Team Durant with 26 points in his 31 minutes on the floor.

It wasn’t a shocking performance, coming from the league’s leading scorer. Now it’s back to work for the 3-time All-Star.

Washington is going to have to take much better care of the ball this game and simply make more shots from beyond the arc. The Wizards were outscored each quarter in their last matchup. The Wizards are going to have to work a bit harder to make sure Ja Morant doesn’t score well above his 19.8 point-average again.