Portland (3-5) at Memphis (7-4)

The Portland Trail Blazers will play their first game without suspended forward Ruben Patterson when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.

The Blazers on Monday placed Patterson on the inactive list after he cursed at coach Nate McMillan over a lack of playing time during Sunday’s 103-92 loss to the New York Knicks.

Patterson was sent back to Portland while the team continues its six-game road trip.

“We will not tolerate this type of behavior from any player,” Blazers General Manager John Nash said in a statement released Monday. “We will continue to demand a higher level of professionalism and personal responsibility from all of our players or we will continue to take appropriate action.”

Patterson averaged 28 minutes, 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 70 games last season. In just eight games this season, he is averaging 19.3 minutes, seven points and 2.3 rebounds a game.

McMillan came to Portland this season after five years as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics and inherited a young, troubled team that has dealt with player misbehavior, personnel changes from the front office down, fan disenchantment and two years without a postseason appearance.

The new coach has vowed to get the team under control, but in addition to Patterson, he has already clashed with star forward Zach Randolph, ejecting him from practice after Randolph said something that displeased McMillan during a drill.

Portland is still looking for its first road win of the season.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 99-83 loss to the Denver Nuggets, snapping a four-game winning streak. Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Shane Battier scored 20 points.

Memphis made just four 3-pointers against Denver and its 82 3-pointers this season ranks it in the top five in the league.

The Grizzlies defense also ranks among the best in the league. Memphis tied a season-high with 12 blocked shots against Denver, and now has 68 blocks.

This game also marks the first time Memphis guard Damon Stoudamire will face his old team.

Stoudamire spent seven-plus season with Portland before signing in August with Memphis. Last season, Stoudamire set franchise records for most points in a game (54) and 3-pointers in a season (181).

STANDINGS (through Nov. 21): Trail Blazers - 4th place (tied), 1 1/2 GB, Northwest Division. Grizzlies - 3rd place, 2 GB, Southwest Division.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Trail Blazers - F Darius Miles, F Zach Randolph, C Joel Przybilla, G Sergei Monia, G Sebastian Telfair. Grizzlies - F Gasol, F Battier, C Lorenzen Wright, G Eddie Jones, G Stoudamire.

TEAM LEADERS: Trail Blazers - Miles and Randolph, 19.1 ppg; Randolph, 10.1 rpg; Telfair, 4 apg. Grizzlies - Gasol, 19.5 ppg and 8.1 rpg; Stoudamire, 4.6 apg.

2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Grizzlies 3-1.

LAST MEETING: March 14; Grizzlies 104-83. At Memphis, Tenn., the Grizzlies shot 52 percent from the field and Mike Miller led Memphis with 27 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Trail Blazers - 0-3 on the road; Grizzlies - 3-1 at home.