Grizzlies at Nets
The Memphis Grizzlies have faded in the second half in each contest during a three-game losing streak, a trend they hope to reverse with a more complete effort at the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. After blowing eight- and- nine-point halftime leads in losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks, respectively, the Grizzlies watched a 12-point intermission advantage disappear in Tuesday's 122-114 setback to Toronto.
They've been outscored by an average of 12.3 points in the third quarter of those affairs while showcasing little of the team's trademark defensive prowess. "I'm not happy, by any means," center Marc Gasol told reporters Tuesday. "I'm nowhere near happy with (our defense). You can see the trend. Things don't happen overnight. You can see it. You can start feeling it. It tickles you a little bit, but you think, 'Maybe it’s just me.' I'm pretty demanding when it comes to defense and I'm the guy behind, so I see a lot of things." Memphis will try to right the ship against a Nets' squad coming off its worst offensive effort of the season in a 101-91 loss to Utah. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 18 points for Brooklyn, which shot 34.9 percent in losing its fourth straight.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-8): Gasol did his part on the other end with 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting against the Raptors, and later downplayed any issues from an ankle injury suffered late in the game. Guard Mike Conley added 20 points and six assists for Memphis, which shot over 50 percent from the field for the sixth time this season but let Toronto go off at a 60.9 percent clip. "Systematically, I think we're fine. Obviously, teams do a good job of preparing and studying and seeing what's going on," coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "Tonight, they were creating gaps. But, for the most part, our defense has been solid. We just have to do a better job of executing and taking them out of what they want to do."
ABOUT THE NETS (8-14): Guard D'Angelo Russell followed a 16-for-28 shooting performance Sunday against Philadelphia by going 6-for-25 from the floor in the loss to the Jazz. "I think they had a great scouting report against us, whatever it was. I'll watch the film," Russell told reporters. "But I think they did a great job staying attached to our shooters and being in the right place in rotations." Dinwiddie is averaging 21.5 points in 27.3 minutes over his last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Grizzlies rookie PF Jaren Jackson Jr. made 1-of-4 shots and scored four points against Toronto after averaging 18 points while hitting 14-of-21 from the field over his prior two contests.
2. Nets SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is shooting 53.1 percent in three starts and 39.2 percent in 15 games off the bench.
3. Brooklyn took the two meetings last season and has won three in a row overall.