Celtics vs. Grizzlies preview: Avery Bradley's returns for Boston against Memphis

For the Boston Celtics, shooting guard Avery Bradley's return couldn't come at a better time.

After losing their last three games by a combined 69 points, Boston will get their defensive stopper when the Memphis Grizzlies come to town Wednesday night from TD Garden.

The Celtics will be thrilled to be off their West Coast road trip, where the team as a whole struggled shooting the ball and Rajon Rondo suffered a hip/thigh injury that left the speedy point guard hobbled and unable to keep up his blazing pace.

Despite his struggles on the road trip, Paul Pierce is still averaging a team high 19.9 points per game. But Pierces's scoring, nor Bradley's defense at the two-guard spot will stop Memphis' towering duo of bigs.

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are averaging 14 and 17 points per game, respectively. Randolph leads the team with 12 rebounds per game, while Gasol averages nearly two blocks per game/

The Grizzlies have suffered some of the same struggles Boston has over their last three games, as they were unable to score over 90 points in any of the last three contests. The only difference was that Grizzlies were able to keep up their defensive intensity and keep all three games close, while winning one of them.

Memphis' expected starting lineup is: Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.

Boston's expected starting lineup is: Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Collins.

Rondo is listed as day-to-day and head coach Doc Rivers could start Courtney Lee, while easing Bradley off the bench.

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