Memphis (6-3) at Utah (4-6) 9:00 pm EST
SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Thanks to an improved defense, the
Memphis Grizzlies are off to the best start in franchise history.
Memphis looks to maintain its higher standard of play when it
meets the slumping Utah Jazz on Saturday for the first time this
season.
Damon Stoudamire scored a season-high 26 points and Mike Miller
added a season-high 24 as the Grizzlies won for the sixth time
in their last eight outings with a 115-103 triumph over the
Phoenix Suns.
Memphis has held its last six opponents to an average of 86.2
points. The Grizzlies yielded a season-low 69 against Seattle
on November 8 and 73 against the Los Angeles Lakers six days
later.
Utah has been showing the wear-and-tear of having several key
players out with injuries, including Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos
Boozer, Keith McLeod and Matt Harpring. During their four-game
losing streak, the Jazz are averaging just 84.3 points.
Mehmet Okur scored 29 points, rookie Deron Williams added 21 and
Kris Humphries 16 with 10 rebounds in Friday's 102-94 defeat to
the Suns.
The Jazz lost all three regular season meetings against the
Grizzlies but lead the all-time series, 29-9.





