The Atlanta Hawks will catch a break in their season opener on Wednesday. Memphis Grizzlies starting center Marc Gasol will not play in the season opener. Gasol severely sprained his left ankle when he landed awkwardly on teammate Hasheem Thabeet's foot. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that the club's starting center did not practice with the team ahead of the team's first game and will not be active for Memphis' opener at the FedEx Forum.
X-Rays taken Gasol, who is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol, were negative and that an MRI was better than expected. Nevertheless, team medical officials did not clear the 7-foot-1 Spaniard to play in the season's first game.
The paper also reports that F Darrell Arthur -- not Thabeet -- will start for the Grizz at center. Memphis is looking to match up against Atlanta's athleticism rather than put a big into the game. The Hawks and Grizzlies tip off at 8:00 pm.