Nuggets-Grizzlies Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 31 2012 1:07AM

The Denver Nuggets' lengthy winning streak is over. They'd like to continue their run on the road.

Denver looks to win six straight away from home for the first time in 24 years on Tuesday night when it faces a Memphis Grizzlies team trying to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.

After reeling off six consecutive wins and eight in nine games, Denver (14-6) was outscored 32-22 in the final 12 minutes and lost 109-105 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

The Nuggets, though, still have the second-best record in the Western Conference as they go for their first six-game road winning streak since March 23-April 8, 1988.

Denver is scoring 112.4 points per game and has won twice in overtime during its current surge away from home.

"I actually think our mental attitude on the road court has been better-focused than at home," coach George Karl told the Nuggets' official website following Monday's practice.

Denver hasn't received much production from Arron Afflalo the last two games - just five points in 41 minutes - so the possible return of starting point guard Ty Lawson could give the club a better matchup against Mike Conley as it makes its first of two visits to Memphis this season.

Lawson has been out two games with a sprained left ankle.

"If I'm able to play, I'm going to play," he said on Monday. "There's no playing it safe now. We're in the middle of the season and we're still in a group of teams trying to separate ourselves in the West."

The Grizzlies (10-10) are falling off the pace after dropping their fourth in a row on Monday, 83-73 to San Antonio. Back from a 1-3 West Coast trip, Memphis shot 37.0 percent and totaled is second-fewest points this season as Rudy Gay finished with one and Marc Gasol had seven on 3-of-11 shooting.

The Grizzlies are scoring 83.0 points per game on 38.4 percent shooting during their skid compared to 102.0 points and 49.6 percent from the field during a 7-0 surge that preceded this stretch.

However, coach Lionel Hollins feels the problem goes far deeper than his team's offensive woes.

"Did you see effort out there?" Hollins said Monday after the Grizzlies' four-game home winning streak ended. "That's the problem. We're not working. First effort, second effort, third effort - when we give effort, it's just for a few seconds, and then we let up."

The Grizzlies, who last dropped five in a row from Nov. 10-19, 2010, have lost 14 of 17 in this series, including two of three last season.

Gay - three steals shy of setting the franchise record with 524 - missed the last meeting versus Denver, a 120-107 road loss on Feb. 22 due to a partially dislocated left shoulder.

Lawson and Afflalo each scored 21 points in that contest as the Nuggets won just hours after the blockbuster three-team Carmelo Anthony deal brought Danilo Gallinari to town.

Gallinari is averaging career highs with 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals. He leads the Nuggets with 19.6 points per game during their road winning streak.

Al Harrington is averaging 18.2 with 7.2 rebounds during this stretch.

Denver lost 116-108 on Feb. 13 in its lone visit to Memphis in 2010-11.

If the Nuggets can win for the 15th time in 18 games in this series, they'll set a franchise record for victories in a month with 13.

Mayo leads Grizzlies past Nuggets 100-97 in OT

Posted Feb 01 2012 2:05AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Memphis Grizzlies went behind closed doors Monday night and held a players-only meeting to regain the focus that made them successful last season.

It appears to have worked.

O.J. Mayo scored 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime, as Memphis rallied from a double-digit deficit Tuesday night and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 100-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

"It's the grit-and-grind, 48-minute effort from the entire team," Mayo said of the change in mentality. "We try to put havoc on the opposing team. Defensively, playing hard, scrappy, owning the paint."

Mayo's basket, which came after the Grizzlies scrapped for two offensive rebounds to retain possession, gave Memphis a 98-97 lead. Two free throws by Mike Conley with 8 seconds left provided Memphis the final margin. Rudy Fernandez's potential tying 3-point attempt in the closing seconds for Denver bounced off the rim, sending the Nuggets to their second straight loss.

The sequence leading up to Mayo's basket was part of the scrap and hustle that was missing during the Grizzlies' skid. Memphis lost to the San Antonio Spurs 83-73 on Monday night. The lackadaisical performance led to a postgame meeting among the players - something the players said contributed to Memphis overcoming a 12-point deficit with 9 minutes left in regulation against the Nuggets.

"I think what was said in the meeting came into play," Conley said. "The fact we were able to confront ourselves as a team, and person to person, allowed us to look at the game like, `Hey, it's only 12 points. We can come back.'

"We can't give up. We've got to keep pushing forward and keep giving the effort. Win or lose as long as we give the effort, we'll be fine. That's the kind of attitude we have."

Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol both overcame poor shooting nights to lead Memphis with 20 points apiece, each also grabbing 13 boards as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Nuggets 48-42. Tony Allen had 17 points and four blocks, and his defensive pressure in the second half keyed a Grizzlies rally. Conley finished with 11 points.

Al Harrington led Denver with 23 points, 21 after halftime, and 10 rebounds. Andre Miller had 20 points on 8 of 13 from the field. Nene scored 14 points and Ty Lawson had 12 points.

Danilo Gallinari, Denver's leading scorer with a 17.9 average, ended the night going 1 of 10 from the field, scoring only eight points.

The teams were tied at 91 at the end of regulation after Miller's 18-footer rimmed out as the horn sounded.

"In overtime, they outhustled us on many misses with the lead and made a big 3," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We made them take two or three shots before they got it, but we ran out of gas."

Memphis trailed by as many as 13 in the game, and still was down 10 with just over 6 minutes left in regulation.

The Grizzlies then scored 10 of the game's next 11 points to pull close. But Memphis never overtook Denver, tying it twice late in the fourth quarter. Allen's dunk with 5 seconds left tied the score at 91, setting up overtime.

Memphis ended the night shooting 38 percent, but overcame that by causing 25 Denver turnovers. Among the Grizzlies rebounding stats were 17 offensive boards, including the two key ones before Mayo's basket.

"We were just one rebound short of getting out of here with a win," Harrington said.

Added Karl: "I thought we lost the game because of second shots, missed free throws and turnovers."

Memphis' poor shooting resulted in only four points off 14 Denver turnovers in the first half. That was because the Grizzlies were hitting at a 28 percent clip, including another inaccurate shooting half for Memphis' leading scorers Gay and Gasol. Gay was 2 of 8 in the half, while Gasol was 2 of 6.

The result was the Nuggets holding a 13-point lead in the half and carrying a 49-37 advantage to the locker room.

"We were executing in the first half. We just couldn't make any shots," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "The thing I thought kept us in the game was offensive rebounds. I've been saying that there are nights that you won't shoot very well, but you still have to rebound and give yourself more possessions, and we did that."

Memphis used a 12-4 rally to whittle the Nuggets' lead opening the second half, but Harrington kept scoring to hold off Memphis.

Memphis pulled within one at 84-83 as Allen scored two straight baskets inside. Mayo's 8-foot floater finally pulled the Grizzlies even at 89 with 33.6 seconds left in regulation.

Harrington's offensive rebound and stick-back gave Denver the lead at 91-89, but Allen answered with a dunk to tie it at 91 with 5 seconds remaining.

Miller's runner at the horn spun out, sending the game to overtime.

The overtime win, overcoming a poor shooting night and scrambling to keep a possession alive for Mayo's go-ahead bucket had players around the locker room reciting the Grizzlies' grit-grind motto.

"Sometimes, you are going to play your heart out and have 100 percent effort and maybe still lose the game," Mayo said. "That's very capable in this league. But you can leave the gym saying: `I gave it all I got.'"

Notes: Gay had two steals, tying him with Shane Battier as the franchise leader with 523. ... The Nuggets entered with identical 7-3 records on the road and at home. ... The Nuggets had won 13 of the last 15 in the series before Tuesday's loss. ... Grizzlies F Sam Young did not play because of back spasms. ... Memphis was playing its first overtime game of the season, while Denver had won its two previous overtime games. ... The Nuggets' 25 turnovers were two short of the most in the league this season. Denver had 27 against Sacramento on Jan. 4. ... Denver guard Ty Lawson was playing his first game after missing two with a right ankle sprain.

Notebook: Grizzlies 100, Nuggets 97

By Marlon W. Morgan, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday February 1, 2012 12:38AM

THE FACTS: The Memphis Grizzlies finally found their grit and grind, just in time to snap their season-long four-game losing streak with a 100-97 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies shot poorly once again (38 percent), but managed to score 21 points off of 25 Denver turnovers to earn the come-from-behind win.

QUOTABLE: "We made outstanding hustle plays all night long. Guys were diving and leaving their hearts and souls out there. I told them that's who we are. That's how we got to where we are. Last year, this year, it's always been with our effort."
-- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins

THE STAT: Despite pulling out the victory, the Grizzlies shot 38 percent, marking the fourth time in the last five games they have shot less than 40 percent from the floor.

TURNING POINT: Denver guard Andre Miller went to the free throw line with the Nuggets holding an 84-79 lead with 4:30 left in regulation. But the 79 percent free throw shooter missed a pair, and the Grizzlies went on to close out the fourth quarter on a 10-6 run to force overtime. Miller's three missed free throws on the night all game in the final 4:30.

HOT: Denver forward Al Harrington came off the bench and did all he could to help get his team a win. Harrington scored 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting. He also hauled in 10 rebounds and dished out four assists and had a couple of steals.

NOT: Harrington got extended minutes (38) due to the ineffectiveness of Danilo Gallinari, who came into the game averaging 17.8 points. Gallinari missed nine of his 10 shots and finished with just eight points in just under 25 minutes.

QUOTABLE II: "We've had a great month of January. It might have been the best month I've ever had in Denver in my mind."
-- Denver coach George Karl on his team finishing January with a 12-5 record

GOOD MOVE: Because the Grizzlies have struggled at the backup guard position and knowing that the Nuggets had savvy veteran Miller as its backup point guard, Hollins used O.J. Mayo as his backup to Mike Conley in the first half. And when Denver went small in the second half, using Ty Lawson and Miller together with guard Arron Afflalo, it allowed Hollins to play Conley and Mayo with Tony Allen.

NOTABLE: Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay bounced back from his one-point effort Monday against San Antonio to post a 20-point, 13-rebound effort against Denver. Gay also had five assists, two blocked shots and a pair of steals that left him tied with former Grizzly Shane Battier at the franchise's all-time steals leader with 523. ... Despite their poor shooting, the Grizzlies managed to have five players score in double figures. Joining Gay was Marc Gasol (20 points), Mayo (18), Allen (17), and Conley with 11. ... Denver point guard Ty Lawson returned to action after missing two games with a sprained left ankle. He played 34 minutes, scoring 12 points with four assists, but had five turnovers. ... Gasol was the game's iron man, playing 50 minutes. In addition to 20 points, Gasol had 13 rebounds and three blocked shots.

UP NEXT: For the Nuggets, Thursday @ L.A. Clippers, Friday vs. L.A. Lakers, Saturday @ Portland. For the Grizzlies, Thursday @ Atlanta, Friday @ Oklahoma City, Sunday @ Boston.

• Nuggets: Carroll, Hamilton
• Grizzlies: Arthur, Randolph

• Nuggets: --
• Grizzlies: --

• Lead Changes: 14
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #27 Dick Bavetta, #66 Haywoode Workman
• Attendance: 13651
• Duration: 2:43