The Memphis Grizzlies are 8-11 since big man Steven Adams went out with a sprained PCL in his knee. That’s not a coincidence, he did the little things, the dirty work — setting rock-solid screens, boxing out and crashing the glass, being a physical defense e presence in the paint — the high-flying Grizzlies need and miss.

Memphis is going to. have to hold on without him, Adams is out at least another month after getting a stem cell injection in his problem knee, the team announced.

That leaves the Grizzlies particularly thin up front with Brandon Clarke out for the season with a torn Achilles. Xavier Tillman has been the Grizzlies starting five of late.

Throw in Ja Morant being away from the team after waiving a gun around on social media and you have a very shorthanded Memphis squad who have been passed by the Kings as the No. 2 seed in the West and are trying to hang on to the No. 3 spot (the Suns are only 2.5 games back, but with Kevin Durant out it’s hard to see them making a rapid push up the standings).

The Grizzlies didn’t look shorthanded Thursday night, handing the Warriors another road loss. Dillon Brooks enjoyed that win very much.

Check out more on the Grizzlies

Grizzlies’ Jenkins: Team ‘had conversations in the past trying... Three things to Know: Fox is clutch, Kings are fun, roll past Knicks Dillon Brooks gets last word with Draymond Green after Grizzlies victory

Grizzlies big man Steven Adams likely out for rest of regular season originally appeared on NBCSports.com