Spurs at Grizzlies
The young, fun Memphis Grizzlies are turning their talent into wins and will try to earn their first four-game winning streak of the season when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Grizzlies are winners of six of their last nine but will be trying to avenge one loss in that span - an embarrassing 145-115 home loss to the Spurs on Dec. 23.
Memphis allowed San Antonio to shoot 67.4 percent from the floor and knock down 15-of-24 from beyond the arc in that Dec. 23 meeting but responded by winning five of the next seven games and began a six-game homestand by overcoming a 14-point deficit in a 119-112 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday. "It speaks volumes to our growth," veteran forward Jae Crowder told reporters after Tuesday's win. "I think we've done a good job of growing each and every game - win, lose or draw. We're doing a good job of watching film, trying to get better, trying to make the right plays on both ends of the court." The Spurs are winners of four of their last six games and knocked off East-leading Milwaukee at home on Monday before beginning the four-game road trip with a 129-114 victory at Boston on Wednesday. "We've been more consistent defensively helping each other, not making so many mistakes," San Antonio guard DeMar DeRozan, who led the way with 30 points on Wednesday, told reporters. "When we do that, when we rely on the defensive end to keep us in games, it's easier to find a rhythm."
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southwest, FS Southeast, Sportsnet One
ABOUT THE SPURS (16-20): DeRozan went 10-of-17 from the floor on Wednesday to continue a remarkable stretch of efficiency that has seen him average 26.1 points on 64.1 percent shooting over the last nine games. DeRozan's production is coming mostly from inside the arc while All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is drifting away from the basket and averaging four 3-point attempts over the last nine contests. Aldridge slipped to 1-of-5 from beyond the arc on Wednesday but knocked down 20-of-31 over the previous eight games.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (16-22): The starting backcourt of 23-year-old Dillon Brooks and 20-year-old rookie Ja Morant combined for 53 points on 23-of-38 shooting on Tuesday while second-year forward Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. "One of our better come-from-behind wins this season," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. "We talked about before the game getting back in front of our home fans, about how the building was rocking in that fourth quarter. ... You could sense the crowd just continue to stay behind us all game, especially when we were getting some big stops." Memphis improved to 8-12 at home with the victory and sits one game behind the eighth-place Spurs in the West.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Grizzlies C Jonas Valanciunas was held to four points on 1-of-6 shooting Tuesday after exploding for 30 points at Phoenix on Sunday.
2. Spurs PF Trey Lyles went 4-of-4 from the floor on Wednesday after combining to go 6-of-27 over the previous four contests.
3. Jackson hit multiple 3-pointers in 10 straight games - the second-longest streak in Memphis franchise history.