Cavaliers at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies snapped a long losing streak to go into a Christmas break on a high note, which they hope to carry forward with a matchup against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Behind 27 points by rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies ended their five-game slide with a 107-99 win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
"We played desperate," point guard Mike Conley told reporters. "We tried to do everything just a little bit harder than we've been doing it. Tonight it showed." Conley and center Marc Gasol both finished with 17 points and eight assists as Memphis avoided falling below .500 for the first time since it opened 0-1. The Cavaliers have been under .500 all season as they endure a rebuild, and they're coming off a 20-point home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Cleveland managed just 11 assists, three fewer than its previous season low, while tying Phoenix for the worst record in the NBA.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (8-26): A young team that has seen its roster turn over dramatically since last season is bound to have some issues, but coach Larry Drew wants to see his team power through the tough times with a little more resolve. "It just seems when we hit a bump in the road things get really rocky real fast," Drew told reporters after Cleveland fell apart in the second half against Chicago. "It's something we have to learn how to play through." Larry Nance Jr. was a bright spot in Sunday's loss with 20 points and six rebounds, and the 25-year-old forward is averaging 15.3 points and 12.3 rebounds over a four-game stretch.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (17-16): The fourth overall pick this spring, Jackson is shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and is 22-of-41 (4-of-8 from long range) over his last three games as he asserts himself inside and out. "With that size, length and speed, he's a tough matchup, period," coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters of the Michigan State product. "He's coming into his own, still trying to figure all this stuff out that's going. But the skill set is unique." Conley is averaging 21 points while making 15-of-27 from 3-point range over the same three-game stretch after missing a loss at Golden State with hamstring soreness.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cavaliers SG Rodney Hood (Achilles tendinitis) missed Sunday's loss and is day-to-day.
2. Grizzlies F Omri Casspi (illness) and C Joakim Noah (heel) both sat out the win in Los Angeles.
3. Cleveland took both meetings last season.