De'Anthony Melton and two other keys for the Memphis Grizzlies during a four-game road trip

The Memphis Grizzlies have the 29th easiest schedule remaining in the NBA, but the upcoming stretch may be the toughest.

Four road games against three likely playoff teams is next. The Grizzlies will play the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson, and Tyus Jones are in health and safety protocols and out against the Bucks on Wednesday with the chance of missing more time. Killian Tillie is also in protocols, and Dillon Brooks remains out with an ankle injury.

The Grizzlies (31-15) have shown time and time again that when a player goes down, someone else steps up. That theme will need to continue if this is a successful road trip.

Here are some things to look at over the four-game road trip:

GIANNOTTO: After one-of-a-kind MLK Day win, how far can momentum carry the Memphis Grizzlies? | Giannotto

MLK DAY: Allan Houston, Brevin Knight, Muggsy Bogues reflect on Dr. King's legacy at Grizzlies symposium

CULTURE: Memphis Grizzlies' ascension in Western Conference boils down to one word

Shooting numbers

Bane's absence creates a large void. Memphis has been one of the league's worst 3-point shooting teams in January, and Bane has been one of the league's best. Without Bane, teams may guard the Grizzlies different. Memphis leads the NBA in points in the paint, and Bane's shooting has been the perfect complement.

John Konchar (49.2%) and Ja Morant (35.5%) are the only active Grizzlies shooting above 35% on 3-pointers. Jones shoots 38.2%. Konchar is the most likely candidate to step into a bigger role with Bane and Jones out. He shoots 1.6 3-pointers per game, so if he can double that volume while maintaining his efficiency, the Grizzlies will thrive.

Jaren Jackson Jr. and De'Anthony Melton are two others to watch. Jackson is second on the Grizzlies behind Bane in 3-point attempts per game (5.6), and Melton is fourth with 4.7 attempts. Both players are shooting below 33% from three.

Paint protection

Memphis will see the NBA's top two individual paint scorers during the road trip.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the NBA with 15.4 paint points, and Denver's Nikola Jokic is second with 15.1. It just so happens that Jackson is developing into one of the league's best rim protectors. He has 25 blocks in his last six games. Beating the Bucks and Nuggets starts with containing Antetokounmpo and Jokic. It also helps that Steven Adams is back in the starting lineup after being in health and safety protocols. He held Nikola Vucevic to 2-of-13 shooting in Monday's win against the Chicago Bulls.

De'Anthony Melton

Jones is the latest Grizzlies player to enter health and safety protocols. In a flash, Melton just became one of the most important Grizzlies on the roster.

This seemed to be the case earlier this season, too, when he was averaging double figures, but he's faded into the background since returning from health and safety protocols while Jones has thrived and Konchar has stepped up. Outside of Morant, Melton is the Grizzlies' best point guard option with Jones and Bane out.

It wasn't until Melton's seventh game back that he reached double figures in scoring. The Grizzlies are hoping that's a sign of things to come.

Contact Damichael Cole at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @damichaelc

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies have three players in COVID protocols on road trip