Grizzlies center Zach Edeywho was sidelined for the sixth straight game on Friday with a left ankle sprain, is moving closer to a return, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. Head coach Taylor Jenkins spoke about the rookie’s status before Friday’s game against New Orleans.

“With Zach I think probably the end of the week or the middle of next week.” Jenkins said. “We’re starting to push him a little bit more on the pitch, so we’re hoping it’s more short-term.”

Jenkins clarified after the game that his reference to “end of week or middle of next week” was about Edey’s ramp-up process and not his projected return date (Twitter link via Cole).

The Grizzlies are back in action on Sunday against Indiana before facing Dallas on Tuesday and returning home to host Sacramento next Thursday. Based on Jenkins’ comments, it seems like he could be back by the end of this stretch if all goes well.

This year’s No. 9 overall pick had been playing some of his best basketball before the injury. In his last four full games before his injury, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game off the bench, with a .581/.800 shooting line /.923 and a net score of +26.6 rating.

Here’s more from the Southwest:

• Marcus Smart had his best game of the season – and one of his best performances since joining Grizzlies — on Wednesday against Detroit, where he had 25 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in just 20 minutes. As Cole details in a separate story for The Memphis Commercial Appeal, Smart has only made 30 total appearances since arriving in Memphis due to injuries, but Wednesday’s performance was a reminder of why the Grizzlies traded for him and what he is can bring into the team.
• Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan took part in 5-on-5 work on Friday, another sign that he is close to returning from thumb surgery that has kept him out of action since Nov. 4, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express- News. “I think hopefully we’ll finally have our full team in (Sacramento on Sunday) or at least in Phoenix (on Tuesday).” Point guard Tre Jones told reporters.
• Through 20 games that Rockets Hold a record of 14-6 and control the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. With three days off before Sunday’s showdown with the No. 1 Thunder head coach I am Udoka spoke about what he liked about his team so far this season and in which areas he still sees room for improvement. “I think we do a great job offensively on the glass. We wanted to be No. 1,” Udoka said, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). “I think our pace can improve, and it has. It was a little slow early on. When it came to shooting, we wanted to become a better shooting team, and that would help us achieve even more victories. But no one intentionally tries to miss shots. Guys, you take the right ones and we can live with the result.”