Trail Blazers at Grizzlies
Known for being one of the NBA's more defensive-minded teams, the Memphis Grizzlies have shown their offensive side of late - and it has led to a great deal of success as they prepare to host the high-scoring Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Memphis is coming off a 111-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats - its fourth win in five games and the third time over that stretch it has scored at least 110 points. Portland has lost two straight to open a five-game road trip.
Without one player to carry the bulk of the scoring load, the Grizzlies have instead relied on a balanced attack that forces teams to scramble on the defensive end. That was the case in Saturday's victory over the Bobcats, as five players finished in double figures - led by Mike Conley's 20 points - while three others had at least eight points. The Trail Blazers employ a similar offensive approach but have struggled late on the road trip, squandering fourth-quarter leads in both games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), SportSouth (Memphis)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (42-21): Portland's late-game foibles aren't limited to its previous two games - and that's cause for concern. The Blazers have played five games in the past month when the score was tied or within two points with two minutes remaining - and they've lost all five of them, shooting 6-for-25 with seven turnovers in those late-game situations. "It's a concern," head coach Terry Stotts told the Oregonian. "I need to do a better job of putting guys in position to make plays. Part of my job is to put them in position to succeed."
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (36-26): Despite being 10 games over the .500 mark, Memphis still finds itself sitting fourth in the Southwest Division, the toughest grouping in the league. Part of the reason the Grizzlies aren't in the same neighborhood as the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks is that they have a dreadful 2-11 record against divisional opponents - worse than even the fifth-place New Orleans Pelicans. With the Spurs 9-3 versus the Southwest, Houston 9-4 and Dallas 9-5, it's easy to see why the Grizzlies lag behind.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis has won four straight meetings, with the last three coming in Portland.
2. Portland averages 107.7 points but has reached that total just once in its last five games - a 118-113 loss to Houston on Sunday.
3. The Grizzlies are 31-10 when allowing fewer than 100 points.