Grizzlies at Pelicans
The Memphis Grizzlies are a hot squad and aim to win for the eighth time
in 10 games when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Memphis recovered from a shaky 3-6 start to get back on track while New
Orleans has struggled to a shoddy 4-13 record under first-year coach
Alvin Gentry.
The Pelicans have a superstar in power forward Anthony Davis, and the presence of a player averaging 23.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots hasn't lifted the team out of its doldrums. "It can't be done by one guy," Gentry told reporters. "I don't know of a team in the league that has been able to do that. Even the great teams have other guys that contribute things that help you win games." The Grizzlies committed a season-worst 26 turnovers on Sunday but had the good fortune of having the winless Philadelphia 76ers as the opponent. Memphis was able to recover from the miscues and rally late in the fourth quarter to record a 92-84 victory.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (10-8): Power forward Zach Randolph (knee) is back from a five-game absence and had 17 points and 11 rebounds against Philadelphia for his fifth double-double of the season. He displayed some early-game rust and went just 6-of-17 from the field, but Memphis was glad to have him back in the lineup. "I thought he was pretty good," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said after the contest. "Bringing him back and he played 32 minutes. He wanted to play more."
ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-13): New Orleans has been on the verge of getting back guard Tyreke Evans from a preseason knee injury for nearly a week and there is also the possibility that reserve guard Norris Cole (ankle) will return on Tuesday. Gentry told reporters on Monday there is a good chance both players will be available - a move that would restore much-needed depth and put a smile on the face of Davis. "They are two big parts of our team," Davis told reporters. "We cannot make excuses for what we don't have. We have to do it right now with the people we have. If they do come back, that's good but we still have to find a way to come out with wins."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans have won six of the past nine meetings.
2. Memphis SF Jeff Green has made a franchise-record 40 consecutive free throws.
3. New Orleans SG Eric Gordon scored a season-worst four points on 1-of-9 shooting in Saturday's loss to Utah.