Grizzlies at Pelicans
The Memphis Grizzlies have moved a season-best eight games above .500
and play another team that is on a roll when they visit the New Orleans
Pelicans on Monday. Memphis has won three consecutive games and nine of
its last 11 while New Orleans has won two straight contests and seven of
its past nine.
The Grizzlies are thriving on offense with eight consecutive 100-point outings, which matches the longest streak in franchise history. Backup forward Jeff Green has been superb with a 26.7 average on 63.3 percent shooting over the past three games and scored 29 points in Saturday's 121-177 win over the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is 5-1 on a seven-game homestand and posted a 105-103 victory over the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Saturday when point guard Jrue Holiday hit a 15-footer with 1.3 seconds to play. "All of them are not going to be pretty wins," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "All of them are not going to be exactly as you want them to be, but any win is a good win. In 27 years, I’ve never had a bad win in the NBA."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (28-20): Memphis has a recent pattern of strong starts and the victory over Sacramento also was along those lines as the Grizzlies led 36-22 after one quarter - shooting 65.2 percent from the field and holding the Kings to 38.1. "We would like to but it's not always going to be like that," center Marc Gasol told reporters. "We're not always going to score 65 percent of our shots in the first quarter. On the other hand, we have to try to get the other team under 20 (points)." Gasol had a solid all-around effort against Sacramento with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (18-28): Holiday not only made big shots down the stretch against the Nets, he continued his recent torrid play with 26 points and seven assists in just 24 minutes. He has taken advantage of increased playing time due to Tyreke Evans' knee woes - the versatile guard has missed the past two games - and is averaging 27.7 points and eight assists over the past three games, and he averaged 18 points and seven assists in January. "He took big shots, he's Jrue Holiday ... it's nothing new for him," power forward Anthony Davis told reporters. "That's the good thing about him too. He doesn’t care if he starts. He just wants to be in the game and that's what counts."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Grizzlies won both of this season's prior meetings behind Gasol, who scored a career-high 38 points in the first victory and is averaging 27 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and 2.5 blocks.
2. New Orleans has made 10 or more 3-pointers in each of the past seven games.
3. Memphis SF Matt Barnes is 5-of-20 shooting over the past three games.