The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Los Angeles Lakers at FedEx Forum on Thursday.

The Lakers (13-12) have struggled to find their footing this season, but winning five of their last eight games is an encouraging sign. The nature of the most recent victory is the most promising sign, dominating the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The 117-102 final scoreline makes that game look closer than it was, with Los Angeles outscoring Boston in the middle quarters, 60-42. It was one of the first games where LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook all played well together, and that's obviously the most important thing as we advance. Having a threesome like that makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA, and the wins will keep flowing if the recent form continues.

The Grizzlies (14-11) enter this matchup winning five of their last six games, losing to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in their most recent outing. They actually had a double-digit lead right before the half in that game but collapsed in the second half. The numbers in the five-game winning streak are extraordinary, with Memphis never trailing in any of those. Holding the lead for five straight games is an absolute miracle, and it's a testament to how good these roles players are around Ja Morant. The superstar point guard is dealing with a knee issue, and it's really encouraging to see these young guys play so well in his absence.

These teams played back on November 21, with Los Angeles prevailing, 121-118. That gives the Lakers seven wins in their last eight matchups with the Grizzlies, dating back to 2019.