Grizzlies at Hornets
Coming off perhaps their most emotional win of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies will try to avoid a letdown Friday when they travel to face the New Orleans Hornets. It took a Marc Gasol tip-in with less than a second remaining to lift the Grizzlies to a 90-89 overtime win against Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Memphis moved within three games of the Thunder in the race for the second spot in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies were on a bit of a surge earlier in the season when they dropped an ugly one to the last-place Hornets at home. Memphis got revenge in a rematch earlier this month, part of a 1-7 stretch for New Orleans that was eased by Wednesday's 87-86 win over Boston, which also came on a last-second tip-in. Rookie Anthony Davis was the hero, knocking in the game-winner to give the Hornets a 10-8 home record since they started 3-13 at New Orleans Arena.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis), Fox Sports New Orleans (New Orleans)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (46-21): Perhaps the best feature of the dramatic win over Oklahoma City lies in the fact that Memphis won playing its style. The league's top defense held its top offense to 35.7 percent shooting, including a 2-for-18 showing from 3-point range. Oklahoma City's 83 points in regulation were its fewest since April 16, 2012. "That's that grit-and-grind motto right there," point guard Mike Conley said after scoring a season-high 24 points. "We just find a way to win however it is. (This) was one of those wins."
ABOUT THE HORNETS (23-46): Ryan Anderson scored 21 points and Eric Gordon had 18 in the win over the Celtics. New Orleans trailed by 10 at halftime before its defense fueled the comeback as Boston was limited to just 31 second-half points. Perhaps more striking was the 30-12 advantage on the glass for the Hornets after the break. The recent run of relative success at home is not without significance. New Orleans is 1-1 on a seven-game homestand and could play spoiler against several teams looking to improve their playoff positioning.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Since revealing that he had been playing with a sprained wrist, Conley has averaged 22 points, 5.5 assists and only one turnover in two games.
2. Since returning from a one-game layoff due to an illness, Anderson has shot 33.9 percent, including just 24 percent (6-for-25) from long range.
3. Memphis F Darrell Arthur has missed nine straight games with neck and back ailments. He remains day-to-day.
PREDICTION: Grizzlies 92, Hornets 88