(SportsNetwork.com) - Two of the league's best do battle Monday night when the Golden State Warriors welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to Oracle Arena for a clash with huge ramifications for one team.
The Warriors clinched the top record in the NBA a while back, so they're trying to keep sharp for the postseason.
The Grizzlies are in a dog fight for the Southwest Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They trail the defending champion San Antonio Spurs by a half-game, and are tied with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.
With just two games left, there's a lot to figure out for the Grizzlies, but health is the most important thing. Mike Conley is questionable with foot issues, Tony Allen is out with a hamstring injury and Jeff Green is questionable with back spasms.
The biggest injury of them all occurred Saturday night when All-Star center Marc Gasol went down with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and Gasol is listed as doubtful.
The Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, 94-86, at the Staples Center.
Zach Randolph led Memphis with 21 points to go along with 13 rebounds and five assists, and Green added 15 in the setback.
Gasol left after 10 minutes, but the Grizzlies fought one of the hottest teams in the league. The game was tied just before the midway point of the fourth when J.J. Redick canned a 3-pointer, then Chris Paul scored the final five points of what turned out to be an 8-2 run that gave Los Angeles an 87-81 lead.
Randolph converted a floater with over three minutes left that cut Memphis' deficit to four, but that would be as close it would come down the stretch.
"I'm proud of our team. When Marc went out we still battled," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "They're a good team and we held them to only 94 points."
As Memphis tries to get healthy, the Warriors sit back and watch.
The only player listed in Golden State's injury report is backup guard Leandro Barbosa with a sore right Achilles.
The Warriors have won two in a row, both at home, including Saturday's 110-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Stephen Curry had 34 points, seven assists and four steals to continue his push toward the MVP award.
Klay Thompson netted 23 points, Draymond Green supplied 13 points and 14 rebounds and Harrison Barnes provided 13 points and 12 boards for the Warriors, who have won two straight on the heels of their brief two-game slide.
Minnesota was down 99-95 following a Chase Budinger layup with 2:45 to go, but Thompson nailed a triple and Curry's three-point play upped the advantage back to 105-95.
"When there's really not a lot on the line, human nature is to take a step back," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "When the playoffs come our edge will be back."
The two teams split two meetings this season, both in Memphis. If the Grizzlies were to prevail on Monday, they would join the Spurs as the only teams to defeat Golden State twice this season.
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