Pelicans at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies continue a three-game homestand Wednesday night with their first meeting of the season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Memphis has exchanged losses and wins through its first four games, dropping two road games and winning twice at home. It opened the homestand with a 95-88 victory over Boston on Monday, rallying from seven points down in the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies get to face the Pelicans less than 24 hours after New Orleans suffered a 104-98 home loss to Phoenix on Tuesday. Eric Gordon scored 20 points and Anthony Davis made his usual all-around contributions with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots in the losing effort. It was the first conference game for New Orleans, which was just 15-37 against the West in 2012-13.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans (New Orleans), SportSouth (Memphis)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (1-3): Although it limped out of the gate, New Orleans has not shown much of a drop-off with its long-range game without sharpshooter Ryan Anderson, who is out with a foot injury. The Pelicans entered Tuesday ranked first in the NBA with a 50 percent mark from the arc and buried 10-of-18 3-pointers in the loss to the Suns. Unfortunately, they were just 27-for-67 inside the arc, where point guard Jrue Holiday missed all five of his shots.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (2-2): Coming off a 12-point loss at Dallas and losing late to lowly Boston, Memphis got a big boost Monday night from Jerryd Bayless, who scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter. More importantly, the Grizzlies showcased some of the effort that made them the top scoring defense in the NBA last season, limiting the Celtics to 38 second-half points and holding an opponent under 100 points for the first time. Memphis held New Orleans to 91 points or fewer in all four meetings last season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis F Tayshaun Prince has only seven points in 37 minutes over his last two games.
2. Holiday was 1-for-7 from the floor Tuesday and is just 13-for-39 in the last three games.
3. Grizzlies PG Mike Conley had a combined 42 points, 12 assists and five steals in the last two games against New Orleans last season.