The Memphis Grizzlies signed point guard Mike Conley to the largest deal in NBA history in the offseason, and he responded with his best start while leading the team in scoring (19.2 points) and assists (5.7). The Grizzlies will begin life without Conley, who suffered a transverse process fracture in his back in Monday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Toronto Raptors
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | Money Line |
| 503 | MEMPHIS | -10 (-110) | 195.5 (-110) | |
| 504 | TORONTO |
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), Sportsnet One (Toronto)
PREDICTION: Raptors 108, Grizzlies 99
TORONTO — The Memphis Grizzlies will be dealing with yet another injury when they play the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre.
Point guard Mike Conley is expected to be out for about six weeks with a broken bone in his back.
It is bad news for the Grizzlies (11-7), who will be facing a Raptors team that was able to rest some players down the stretch in a 122-95 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
The Raptors (11-6) are 5-3 at home and the Grizzlies are 6-3 on the road.
Memphis has lost two of its last three after winning six straight. The Raptors have won three in a row.
Conley was injured during the third quarter of the 104-85 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday after taking a charge from Michael-Kidd Gilchrist.
The Grizzlies said that Conley was diagnosed with transverse fractures in the vertebrae located in his lower back. The injury is expected to resolve itself with rest. Conley is expected to miss six weeks and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Conley scored seven points in the first four minutes of the third quarter in trying to lead a comeback from a 56-39 disadvantage at the half. The deficit had been cut to 11 points when Conley was injured. He left with 14 points and five assists.
“There was another setback with Mike leaving the game,” Memphis guard Tony Allen said. “A lot of guys looked like they were worried. I think the game got away from us at that point.”
“At that point you are only concerned about that guy’s health,” center Marc Gasol said. “You just worry if he is OK or not.”
The Grizzlies said that Vince Carter also was injured early in the fourth quarter on Monday. Carter, a former Raptors star, suffered a right hip flexor strain. He traveled with the team to Toronto and will be listed as questionable for the game.
The Grizzlies already have plenty of absences. Chandler Parsons, James Ennis and Brandan Wright are out with injuries. Zach Randolph has missed the past three games after the death of his mother last week.
Meanwhile, the Raptors had better news on the injury front. Center Jonas Valanciunas did not play in the fourth quarter Monday because of a minor ankle injury. The ankle was rewrapped and he could have returned but coach Dwane Casey rested him with the game well under control.
“He’s OK,” Casey said.
The Raptors’ concern has been the defensive part of their game. They have kept the opposition under 100 points the past two games. Casey is still not satisfied.
“We had a lot of defensive mistakes,” Casey said Tuesday. “Our defensive fundamentals, we’ve got to continue to work on.”
The Raptors easily defeated Philadelphia despite getting only 14 points from DeMar DeRozan, who has been averaging 30 per game.
“Teams are sending extra bodies to him,” Casey said. “They stay a little longer on the pin-downs.”
Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 24 points and Terrence Ross scored 22 off the bench as six players hit double figures.
“Consistency has been huge for him,” Casey said of Ross. “I know he had 22 points but the most important thing is his defensive focus.”
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