Lucas

Williamson

Clayton will miss a second straight game. On Friday, Lucas Williamson and Jahmai Mashack each played 48 minutes. Expect more strange rotations for Memphis in this one, with Williamson and Mashack likely filling all the backcourt minutes. As for Clayton, the 2025 first-rounder came over to Memphis in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade and could figure in Memphis’ rotation in 2026-27 if Ja Morant is dealt this offseason. He has some conditional fantasy value, but he’s going to need to shoot better than 38.4 percent to be a major cog going forward.

Williamson is playing on a 10-day contract, and Utah rolled him out for all 48 minutes of this game. He wasn’t efficient with his shot, but he was able to record the first double-double of his career. Williamson went undrafted in 2022 and is just now getting his first NBA stint. He has been able to put together some decent games, but he won’t play this large of a role next season.

The Grizzlies are extremely light on bodies for Friday’s game, and they’re rolling out another new starting lineup. Mashack and Okani are the only holdovers from Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets, with Williamson, Whitehead and Bal moving from the bench to the starting five.

Small has missed the Grizzlies’ last three games with a thigh contusion. Given how shorthanded the Grizzlies are, he should play significant minutes if available on Friday. Lucas Williamson has provided depth on the perimeter recently, and he’ll remain in the rotation if Small plays.

Williamson, who is on a 10-day contract, will get the first start of his career. Coward, Jackson and Spencer will be back in the starting unit after missing Sunday’s game. Walter Clayton Jr. and Toby Okani will be pushed back to the bench, while Taylor Hendricks and Rayan Rupert, who started on Sunday, will be sidelined for this game.

Spencer is back after sitting out Sunday’s loss to the Bucks. His return may result in fewer minutes for Lucas Williamson, who played 36 minutes in Milwaukee.

Due to injuries, Whitehead was one of four Grizzlies to play at least 36 minutes on Sunday. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but give the former first-round pick credit for not getting cheated on his attempts. Toby Okani (nine points, four rebounds, one steal and one three-pointer) played 41 minutes and Lucas Williamson (5/3/4/1 with one three-pointer) played 36 on Sunday; in addition to Whitehead, those two should play plenty in Week 24.

Coward was initially doubtful for Sunday’s game, so his absence is unsurprising. Adama Bal and Lucas Williamson are likely to see their minutes increase, but neither is worth the streaming risk.

Small joins the long list of Grizzlies guards who will not be available for Sunday’s game. If Walter Clayton Jr. (hip) can play after sitting out Friday’s loss to the Raptors, he’s likely to be the starting point guard. If not, Dariq Whitehead and Lucas Williamson may have to fill the void. There’s no need to stream either of them in that scenario.

Williamson has spent this season with the Memphis Hustle and Windy City Bulls and will now get a chance to make his NBA debut for the Grizzlies. He has been in the G League since going undrafted in 2022, which came after he played five seasons at Loyola Chicago.