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Grizzlies' Conley out Saturday, could be shut down for season due to foot sprain

Justin Ford / USA TODAY Sports

After briefly losing their hold in the standings, the Memphis Grizzlies have recaptured second place in the Western Conference, but they are hobbling towards the finish line with three games to play. 

With Tony Allen already sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Grizzlies are now looking at the possibility of being without point guard Mike Conley for the remainder of the regular season due to a right foot sprain, the Commercial Appeal reports. 

That starts with Saturday, as Conley will sit out the Grizzlies' game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It's a fate Conley would prefer to avoid. 

"I don’t want to shut down," he said. "I’d like to be playing and in a rhythm going into the playoffs as opposed to sitting. But I've had a bad little stretch with injuries. I don’t know what the smart thing to do is but I’m going to do the right thing for myself and the team."

Not long before the foot sprain, suffered during Wednesday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Conley had spent four games on the shelf due to a sprained right ankle. He returned for 10 games, but wasn't quite himself, averaging just 12.9 points on 41.8 percent shooting. He's also dealt with wrist, neck and back soreness since the All-Star break. 

Conley sat out Friday's game against the Utah Jazz, but remains optimistic that he'll be able to play again before the playoffs arrive. 

"Once I’m able to walk and put pressure on my feet, and run and cut without hesitating, I can play," he said. "(Friday) I couldn’t really jump or put any pressure on my foot. In a day’s time, you never know. I’m just going to see what it’s like (Saturday)."

In the meantime, Conley is in a walking boot, being treated with ice and electric stimulus. 

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