Seattle (2-9) at Memphis (2-7)

When: 5 p.m., Fed Ex Forum, Memphis

TV: FSN. Radio: 770-AM

Series: This is the second contest between the two teams. Sonics lost an earlier season game to Memphis in Seattle, 105-98 on Nov. 7.

Scouting the Grizzlies: The Grizzlies lost their third straight game Saturday night to Dallas, 108-105. Memphis has lost three straight by a combined eight points. Guard Juan Carlos Navarro, the team’s best 3-point shooter at 52 percent from beyond the arc, had two chances to tie the game in the final moments but failed to drain both 3-point attempts. … … Memphis ranks sixth in the league in scoring (104 ppg.) but is the second-worst team in terms of points given up by its opponent (108.88). Center Darko Milicic is questionable with a sprained left thumb. Milicic is averaging career highs in scoring (10.3) and rebounds (7.6) after signing with the Grizzlies as a free agent in July. He missed Saturday's game and injured the thumb in Friday's overtime loss against New Orleans. Rookie point guard Mike Conley has a strained right shoulder and also is a game-time decision.

Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said the Sonics will have to do a better job of guarding the 3-point line against the Grizzlies, who rank third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (40 percent).

“They shoot a lot of threes and they shoot them well,” Carlesimo said. “They’re No. 3 in the league. And they beat us on the dribble a lot. We gave up probably more penetration against them than we did against anybody so far.”

Mike Miller and Rudy Gay were the main culprits that the Sonics did not handle very well defensively back in Seattle. Miller finished 6-of-10 from the 3-point line and had 20 points. And Gay led all scorers with 25 points, and also pulled down 10 rebounds.

“To me it’s more on our smalls tonight," Carlesimo said about his team's effort on defense. "They have to guard the ball better. They have to guard the 3-point line better. And they have to give us defensive rebounds. We need like 15 to 20 rebounds out of the one, two and three.”

Listen to Carlesimo talk about the matchup with Memphis here.

Scouting the Sonics: Seattle will play its fifth straight game without the services of Robert Swift. The 7-footer has been traveling with the team while sitting out of the games during the trip due to tendinitis s in his surgically repaired right knee.
Guard Luke Ridnour (partially torn left quad) is out. And Center Kurt Thomas also is doubtful for tonight’s game, which means Seattle will play smaller again tonight. That could be a problem for Seattle if Milicic can go tonight.

Seattle will be looking to finish the trip with a 3-2 record if they can get a win tonight. After the Memphis game, Seattle will play seven of its next eight games at home.

Thomas has not played in two games since providing a spark but re-injuring his strained right hamstring against Miami. He talks about his injury and the importance of finishing the road trip strong here.

Next: Friday vs. New Jersey, 7:30 p.m., KeyArena