Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Mike Conley will return Friday night vs. the Sacramento Kings, announced the Grizzlies in a tweet from the Grizzlies PR Twitter account:
Full @memgrizz injury UPDATE (vs SAC):
Mike Conley WILL PLAY
DOUBTFUL
Ennis (R Calf)
Parsons (L Knee)OUT
Davis (L Foot)
Wright (L Ankle)— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) December 16, 2016
Conley was originally expected to miss around six weeks, and he’s instead returning in under three.
Given the spectacular season that Conley was enjoying prior to his injury, the natural assumption was that Memphis would take a step back without him. That didn’t happen. The Grizzlies did more than stay afloat without their point guard; they excelled. After dropping their first game without Conley, Memphis went on to win six consecutive games, and seven of eight. Their wins over this period included impressive victories over Cleveland and Golden State.
This is a good team, and having Conley healthy brings them up another level. In 17 games this season, Conley has averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 44% from the field and a scorching 46.7% from beyond the arc. His points-per-game number and three-point percentage are both career-bests. The Grizzlies currently sit at 18-9, good for fifth in the Western Conference.
