Pistons at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have not been below .500 since they opened the season 0-1, and they'll try to avoid sinking under the even mark when they open a two-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. The Grizzlies have lost nine of 12 following a 15-9 start after Monday's 113-101 loss at Houston, the second straight game in which the usually sound defensive club has allowed at least 112 points.
"They scored too many points in the first half," center Marc Gasol told reporters. "I think they had 61, but our offense was really stagnant, and we weren't really moving our bodies or the ball." Gasol had 14 points and 12 rebounds in the loss while Kyle Anderson matched his career high with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting for Memphis. The Pistons are enduring a dismal four-game road trip, having dropped the first three by an average of 20.7 points, and are 3-12 since a 13-7 start. They shot 38 percent and allowed Milwaukee to shoot 59.5 percent in a 121-98 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Detroit Plus, FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (16-19): Blake Griffin, Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond combined for 63 points on 23-of-42 shooting at Milwaukee, but their teammates were 12-for-50 from the floor. "There's another level we can get to. Shooting the ball, whatever it is, there's another competitive level we can get to," coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "We're gonna get there. I keep saying it. We're gonna find seven, eight or nine guys that's gonna do it. We're gonna keep working at it. We've got some guys that are laying it on the line but not enough." Detroit was also a bit shorthanded Monday with reserves Stanley Johnson (undisclosed) and Zaza Pachulia (leg) sidelined.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-18): Anderson averages 7.8 points but has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games, shooting 70.4 percent in that stretch. Meanwhile, rookie forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who played sparingly down the stretch in Saturday's loss to Boston, saw just 13 minutes of action Monday and scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting. Backup JaMychal Green filled the void with 17 points in 20 minutes and he shot 53.9 percent in December.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Anderson was shooting 63.6 percent from the line before missing all six of his attempts in the loss to Houston.
2. Pistons SG Langston Galloway is 2-for-20 from the floor - 0-for-11 from 3-point range - over a three-game stretch.
3. Memphis had its best offensive performance last season in a 130-117 win over Detroit at home.