Grizzlies at Lakers
THE STORY: After Staples Center proved very unkind to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon in a 101-85 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, they hope to avoid a four-game losing streak when they meet the Lakers on the same court Sunday night. The Lakers are 20-3 at home after a 103-96 win over Portland. The Lakers won 116-111 in double overtime last week as Andrew Bynum had a season-high 37 points and 16 rebounds and Kobe Bryant scored 34.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (25-21): The Grizzlies have lost six of eight overall after going 11-2 and have dropped into a tie for sixth in the West. “It's very disturbing because we don't have a rhythm,” coach Lionel Hollins said. “We have to do a better job with our bench play and with our starters.” Leading scorer Rudy Gay, who missed the game two weeks ago, has been limited to 21 points in his last two games. Memphis has dropped three straight to the Lakers.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (30-18): In his short time with the Lakers, point guard Ramon Sessions already has shown he can be a productive player. Sessions is averaging 13.6 points and seven assists in five games with Los Angeles. He had 20 points and 11 assists in his first start Friday against Portland. “He does make us more dynamic,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. Reserve forward Matt Barnes is averaging 11.2 points and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range in his last six games
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Lakers are 5-1 in their last six home games against Memphis and 16-6 all-time at Staples Center against the Grizzlies.
2. Memphis’ Mike Conley leads the NBA in steals at 2.5 per game.
3. For the first time all season, the Lakers have no injuries to report.