Grizzlies at Pelicans
While Memphis closed strong to pick up a win at home Friday night, New Orleans finished with a whimper. The Grizzlies will try to ride the momentum into the Big Easy when the Southeast Division foes meet Saturday in the third of four encounters this season. Memphis trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter and were down three with under three minutes to go before ending on a 13-3 run to steal a 97-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
New Orleans had a lead in the second half against Boston but was on the wrong end of a 25-10 stretch that spanned the third and fourth quarters en route to a 104-98 setback. Anthony Davis had his second straight solid game since returning from a shoulder injury, finishing with 29 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Davis was one of four Pelicans with at least 20 points in their 106-95 win over Memphis at home Jan. 9.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (44-17): A bit player earlier in the season, reserve guard Nick Calathes has found a rhythm of late and is providing some solid contributions. The second-year player had eight points in 13 minutes against the Lakers while chipping in on the other end with three steals. Calathes has recorded multiple thefts in eight straight games despite playing more than 20 minutes just once in that span.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (33-29): Playing against one the league's top teams in turnover differential, New Orleans will have to do a better job at taking care of the basketball than it did Friday against Boston. The Pelicans had 18 turnovers — seven by Tyreke Evans — in the loss and forced the Celtics into just 11 giveaways, which virtually nullified the fact that New Orleans controlled the glass and shot at a better clip than Boston. "We didn't play our basketball," Evans told reporters. "Part of it was me turning the ball over and not making good decisions."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Grizzlies PF Zach Randolph had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the win over the Lakers.
2. Memphis is 42-of-50 from the foul line in its last two games.
3. Excluding a 19-point effort at Dallas on Monday, Pelicans G Norris Cole is 8-of-35 from the floor over a four-game stretch.