Pistons at Grizzlies
THE STORY: The Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of one of their hottest stretches of the season and are also entering one of the softest portions of their schedule. Winners of three straight games and seven of their last eight, the Grizzlies will host the struggling Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Memphis has won its last four meetings with the Pistons by an average margin of 13 points, including a 98-81 shellacking at Detroit on Jan. 20.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSD
ABOUT THE PISTONS (12-25): Detroit rebounded from an embarrassing home loss to Philadelphia by beating up on league-worst Charlotte on Wednesday night. Center Greg Monroe grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds to go along with 19 points. Monroe has four double-doubles in five games and is averaging 21.0 and 12.6 rebounds during that stretch. Guard Rodney Stuckey missed the last meeting with Memphis. He had 29 points Wednesday, his fourth game in the last eight with at least 23 points.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (21-15): Memphis squeezed out a 102-99 victory over Toronto on Friday, kicking off a stretch in which it plays seven of nine games against teams with losing records. Rudy Gay had his fourth double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds, capping the performance by hitting the go-ahead jumper with 26 seconds to play. He has scored at least 20 points in 11 of his last 16. PG Mike Conley has 41 points, 15 assists and seven steals in the two games coming out of the All-Star break.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Memphis improved to 10-0 this season when scoring 100 points.
2. Although the Grizzlies have dominated the Pistons of late, they have lost four of the last five meetings at home.