Grizzlies at Hornets
THE STORY: The Memphis Grizzlies attempt to stretch their winning streak to four games and the host New Orleans Hornets seek to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat when the two teams meet in the Big Easy on Wednesday. Memphis is playing its best basketball of the season and posted a 102-86 victory over the red-hot Chicago Bulls on Monday. The Grizzlies led by as many as 27 points in avenging a 40-point loss to the Bulls earlier this season. Memphis defeated New Orleans 108-99 at home on Saturday with Rudy Gay scoring 23 points and Marc Gasol contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds. The 108 points were the most allowed by the Hornets, who give up an average of 91.8. New Orleans has lost 10 of 11 since winning its first two games of the season. The Hornets are just 1-6 at home after falling 84-77 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Guard Eric Gordon continues to be sidelined with a knee injury and forward Trevor Ariza is out with a groin injury.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis), Cox Sports (New Orleans)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (6-6): Forward Marreese Speights has been a welcome surprise since being acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month. Speights started each of the past four games and had 16 points and a career-best 12 rebounds against Chicago. Speights has been lauded for his hustle and defense in Memphis, an interesting development since he had developed a reputation of being lazy in Philadelphia. He has prospered for the Grizzles while helping diminish the huge loss of star Zach Randolph to a knee injury.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (3-10): New Orleans has already used six different starting lineups. The latest juggling involved Jason Smith starting at power forward. Center Emeka Okafor is the lone player to start each game. The Hornets are bracing for the return of Gordon and Ariza and that will decrease the minutes of a few players. “There’s no one on our team who can say they haven’t had a chance to prove themselves,” coach Monty Williams said. “Opportunities in this league don’t come often.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Hornets are 17-5 at home against the Grizzlies.
2. Gasol has nine consecutive double-digit rebounding efforts and is averaging 10.8 boards per game.
3. Hornets guard Jarrett Jack has topped 20 points in back-to-back games and is averaging 15.5 points.