Grizzlies-Trail Blazers Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 24 2012 2:38AM

After a stunning comeback, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves on the verge of matching the longest winning streak in franchise history.

The Grizzlies seek an eighth consecutive victory Tuesday night against a Portland Trail Blazers team that's proven difficult to defeat at home.

Since opening the season by dropping six of its first nine games, it's safe to say Memphis (10-6) has turned a corner. The Grizzlies have outscored opponents by an average of 13.3 points while winning seven in a row and climbing to the top of the Southwest Division.

Memphis, which hasn't posted eight straight wins since a franchise-best run Jan. 11-25, 2004, nearly saw its current winning streak come to an end Monday at Golden State. The Grizzlies trailed by as many as 20 points late in the third quarter before outscoring the Warriors 39-22 in the fourth to kick off their four-game trip with a 91-90 victory.

"We were dead in the water in the first half, we had no answers," coach Lionel Hollins said. "(But) we don't quit, we fight. We did that and we were able to come back and get this win, which is a sweet win."

Much of the Grizzlies' success can be attributed to Rudy Gay's tremendous play. The 6-foot-8 forward, who came up clutch with 23 points Monday, is averaging 22.1 during the winning streak - 5.8 more than he averaged over the first nine contests.

"That was a big win for us," said Gay, who also had nine rebounds, four assists and three steals against Golden State. "We went through a lot to get it. We showed what we're made of and we showed our toughness."

Keeping the streak going could be difficult against Portland (10-7). The Blazers, who defeated the Grizzlies 102-89 at home April 12 for their 11th win in the last 14 meetings in this series, have been next to unbeatable in Portland this season.

Following a disappointing 2-4 road trip, Portland returned to the Rose Garden and improved to 7-1 on its own court with Monday's 101-89 victory over Sacramento. The Blazers, whose only home defeat came 107-104 to Orlando on Jan. 11, are tied for third in the league with 104.3 points per game at home.

"It felt good being home with the fans - we got some home cooking in," said Craig Smith, who had 10 points and seven rebounds as Portland opened its first back-to-back-to-back stretch of the season. The Blazers visit the Warriors on Wednesday.

Jamal Crawford had a season-high 26 points to lead the Blazers on Monday, while Gerald Wallace (sprained finger) returned from a one-game absence to score 20.

Crawford's big night surely came as a pleasant surprise to Blazers faithful. The former NBA sixth man of the year is averaging just 13.1 points on 35.3 percent shooting - significantly lower than his career mark of 40.9 percent.

"All these guys said, `just play'," said Crawford, who signed with Portland following the lockout. "(They said) you've got to be the person you were before you came here. You can't try to fit it in."

"Coming into the game I just felt good. It was a fresh start. I just cleared my head and said this is day one all over again."

Portland leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging an unspectacular 15.5 points over his last six home meetings with the Grizzlies but did score 22 in the April victory.

Blazers center Marcus Camby left Monday's win with a mild groin strain. His status is uncertain.

Aldridge, Camby lead Blazers past Grizzlies 97-84

Posted Jan 25 2012 2:15AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Portland used a strong defensive effort to end its recent struggles in the second games of back-to-backs.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and Marcus Camby grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds as the Trail Blazers beat Memphis 97-84 on Tuesday night, ending the Grizzlies' seven-game winning streak.

Portland limited Memphis to 38 percent shooting (34 of 90). The Blazers' defense was particularly notable during the third quarter, when the Grizzlies went more than nine minutes before getting their first field goal of the second half.

Portland, coming off a win against Sacramento on Monday night, had lost four straight times in the back end of back-to-backs, but ended that trend against Memphis with a terrific defensive effort led by Camby.

The 15-year veteran grabbed 12 rebounds during the first half and finished with a season-high five blocks.

"Right place at the right time. I've been around for a while so I just play the angles and try to put myself in the best position to read the trajectory," Camby said. "Considering the opponent and them riding a seven-game winning streak, it was definitely a good win."

Jamal Crawford scored 15 points, Wesley Matthews added 13 and Nicolas Batum and Raymond Felton had 10 each for the Trail Blazers.

With Camby leading the way, Portland outrebounded Memphis 50-39.

"Camby took it upon himself to make sure we got every rebound, so I thought he really took care of business tonight," Aldridge said.

Memphis' starting five scored just 36 points and shot just 15 of 51 from the field. O.J. Mayo came off the bench to lead the Grizzlies with 20 points. Rudy Gay, Memphis' leading scorer at 18.9 points per game, had just 11.

Like Portland, the Grizzlies were playing their second game in two nights. In Memphis' case, it might have been spent after rallying from a 20-point deficit to beat Golden State on Monday.

The Grizzlies missed their first 12 shots of the third, and coach Lionel Hollins sensed his team was sluggish even in the first half.

"When you're a little bit fatigued it's hard to keep attacking. You want to settle, and we did settle too much," Hollins said.

Aldridge hit his first five shots and scored 14 points during the first quarter as the Blazers won consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 10.

The Trail Blazers led 47-43 at halftime despite committing 13 turnovers in the opening two periods. Memphis took advantage of eight Portland turnovers in the first quarter, finishing the period with a 15-5 run to tie the score at 25-all.

Late in the second quarter, the Grizzlies took a 43-42 lead on back-to-back fastbreak dunks by Gay, but Portland scored the final five points of the half.

Portland's defense took over in the third quarter as it opened up a 64-45 lead.

Portland led by 20 points during the fourth quarter. Batum scored all of his 10 points during the second half.

NOTES: During one stretch of the game, Portland made 18 consecutive free throws. The Blazers were 30 of 36 overall. ... Portland finishes its first back-to-back-to-back of the season Wednesday at Golden State. ... The loss dropped Memphis out of a first-place tie with Dallas and San Antonio in the Southwest Division. .... The Grizzlies were trying for their longest winning streak since Jan. 2004.

Notebook: Trail Blazers 97, Grizzlies 84

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 25, 2012 1:51AM

THE FACTS: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points, Marcus Camby pulled down a season-high 22 rebounds and the Trail Blazers did a defensive number on the Grizzlies in a 97-84 victory Wednesday night. Memphis (10-7) shot only 37.8 percent from the field, including 3-for-14 from 3-point range. It was the eighth win in nine home games for Portland (11-7). O.J. Mayo came off the bench to score 20 points for the Grizzlies, who saw their seven-game winning streak end.

QUOTABLE: "He's incredible. He does all the little things to help the team win. Sometimes they show up in the stat sheet; sometimes they don't. But he's the glue guy on this team. He's always there."
-- Jamal Crawford on teammate Marcus Camby

THE STAT: Portland outrebounded Memphis 50-39, including 27-17 in the first half. At one point late in the first quarter, the Blazers held a 13-2 edge on the boards. At the end of one period, Camby had eight rebounds, the Grizzlies five collectively.

TURNING POINT: Portland, ahead 47-43 at the half, outscored Memphis 17-2 in the first nine minutes of the third quarter to go ahead 64-45. The Grizzlies missed their first 12 shots of the quarter. By the time Josh Selby broke through with a driving layup with 2:47 left in the period, the game was decided.

QUOTABLE II: "We gave all we had. It just wasn't enough tonight. You have to give (the Blazers) credit. They came out and took us out of things we usually get buckets on and made us work for everything. When you're a little fatigued it's hard to keep attacking. You want to settle, and we did settle too much."
-- Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, whose Grizzlies came back from a 20-point second-half deficit to win at Golden State on Monday.

HOT: On Monday night against Sacramento, Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge didn't score through the game's first 20 minutes. On Tuesday night, Aldridge had 14 points in the game's first 6 1/2 minutes, making his first five shots from the field.

NOT: Wearing Portland's Gerald Wallace like a sweater, Memphis' Rudy Gay made only 5 of 15 shots and finished with 11 points in 34 minutes. Gay had scored 23 or more points in each of his last three games.

QUOTABLE III: "He's a different player here at home. He feeds off the crowd. They get behind him, cheering his name. they want him to sign that extension -- we do, too. He knows how to play only one way -- all-out. He's the grit we have on this team."
-- Camby on teammate Wallace

INSIDE THE ARENA: For the second night in a row, a Trail Blazer had a chance to make a 3-pointer to hit the 100-point barrier and give each fan a free chalupa at Taco Bell. On Monday, Luke Babbitt made good. On Tuesday night, Nolan Smith's trey missed -- and the fans who remained in the sellout crowd moaned collectively.

GOOD MOVE: Portland coach Nate McMillan had Wallace focus on defending Gay. Memphis' leading scorer never got rolling.

BAD MOVE: Hollins switched Gay onto Aldridge for part of the second quarter and much of the second half. It was understandable given Aldridge's great start offensively, but it seemed to take something from Gay's offense, too.

NOTABLE: Wallace is leading the NBA in field-goal percentage at home (63.8). He is shooting 29.6 percent on the road.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, Wednesday @ Golden State, Friday vs. Phoenix, Monday @ Utah. For the Grizzlies, Thursday @ L.A. Clippers, Saturday @ Phoenix, Monday vs. San Antonio

• Grizzlies: Arthur, Randolph
• Trail Blazers: Johnson, Oden

• Grizzlies: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #74 Curtis Blair, #63 Derek Richardson
• Attendance: 20602
• Duration: 2:13