Grizzlies' Randolph out vs. Spurs with ankle injury

Zach Randolph's return to the Memphis Grizzlies' lineup was short-lived.

Just three games into his return following a knee injury that sidelined him for two weeks, Randolph has been ruled out of Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle.

Randolph suffered the injury during Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the team is calling his status day to day.

The Grizzlies are already thin enough as it is, as they remain without Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Brandan Wright, P.J. Hairston, and Jordan Adams, and continue to dress relative unknowns out of necessity.

Memphis has hung tough, though, and remains six games clear of ninth-place Utah in the quest for the final four Western Conference playoff spots.

Randolph is averaging 14.9 points and a team-leading eight rebounds per game in nearly 30 minutes a night.