Trail Blazers readying for stretch run, set for clash with short-handed Grizzlies

Deni Avdija, recovering from a back injury, is nearing a return to the Portland Trail Blazers lineup, a development that has interim coach Tiago Splitter in a better frame of mind.

Portland travels to Memphis for Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies having lost two straight and four of their last six while searching for production with a mishmash of lineups.

"We have guys coming back and we are still trying to find our game out there with the (different) lineups and who plays well with who," Splitter said. "We have lineups that are better defensively, lineups that crash the boards better, lineups that are better offensively. We still don't have a balance. We have to find it.

"And Deni is coming back soon, so we gotta be ready to adjust and find great first and second units and balance. I can't want to get to that."

Splitter said the Trail Blazers needed the two days off following their 135-101 loss to Atlanta on Sunday to rest, practice and prepare for the final stretch of the season. The Trail Blazers are in position to earn a spot in the play-in tournament that begins April 14.

In the loss to the Hawks, Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and Donovan Clingan posted a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Blazers. But something was missing. Splitter said the energy was lacking.

"The players were trying. They just couldn't get to (their) spots," Splitter said. "We went small and we couldn't rebound."

Getting Avdija back would provide a boost to a team hoping to reach the postseason. Avdija, who has missed the past four games with a lower back injury, is averaging 24.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season.

Avdija has had 22 games this season of at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists, trailing only Luka Doncic (34) and Nikola Jokic (28).

Memphis will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after their 117-110 loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

Even though the Grizzlies had their two-game winning streak snapped, coach Tuomas Iisalo was encouraged with the effort he got from the players he had available. While Minnesota had Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo playing 26 or more minutes each, the Grizzlies were without Ja Morant, who missed his 18th consecutive game with a left elbow injury, and big man Zach Edey, who has missed most of the season and will not return after undergoing a procedure on his left ankle Tuesday.

"I think they should be very proud of themselves," Iisalo said of his players' effort. "That's something we have talked about that is a non-negotiable for us. (Effort) and playing together.

"I thought we did a great job with our transition and I thought we were very effective when we moved the ball on offense."

The Grizzlies were aided by the return of rookie Cedric Coward, who had missed the previous seven games with a right knee injury. Coward, normally a starter, came off the bench to score 15 points in 21 minutes.