NBA rumors: Grizzlies center Steven Adams likely out for playoffs
Report: Grizzlies' Steven Adams likely out for playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Memphis Grizzlies received some bad news during the final weekend of the regular season.
Grizzlies center Steven Adams reportedly is likely to miss the playoffs due to an injured right knee, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday, citing sources.
Adams originally was expected to miss around a month after spraining his posterior cruciate ligament in January, but he hasn't played a game since the injury.
The 29-year-old center averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds for Memphis this season. The team has gone 23-16 without Adams in the lineup, compared to 28-14 with him playing.
Though the Grizzlies locked up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, their first-round opponent is still up in the air.
Memphis will play the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game, which could include the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans or Minnesota Timberwolves.
If the Grizzlies survive the first round, they would play the winner of the No. 3 Sacramento Kings and No. 6 matchup -- which could still be any of those five aforementioned teams.
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Adams' absence will give the Grizzlies even less frontcourt depth than expected, with backup big Brandon Clarke also out for the playoffs with a torn Achilles tendon.
The Grizzlies converted rookie forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.'s two-way contract to a standard NBA contract after receiving the news about Adams. Lofton, the G League Rookie of the Year, is just 6-foot-6 but averaged 10.5 rebounds per game for the Memphis Hustle this season.
