Grizzlies-Suns Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Dec 11 2012 6:03PM

The Memphis Grizzlies appeared sluggish their last time out, but three days off and a matchup against the scuffling Phoenix Suns could help them regroup.

After beating Phoenix in overtime last week, Memphis opens a three-game trek Wednesday night against a Suns team hoping to snap its longest losing streak in nine seasons.

Memphis (14-4) pulled out a 96-89 victory at New Orleans on Friday but couldn't keep up the following night, falling 93-83 to Atlanta. Mike Conley matched a season high with six turnovers for the Grizzlies, who were outscored 32-13 in the third quarter and limited to 14 bench points, matching their lowest total this season.

"We looked like a team that was tired," coach Lionel Hollins said. "The schedule is tough. ... It's just part of the distractions and part of the things that you go through in the NBA. Unfortunately we played a really good team tonight and we weren't able to overcome all the things we needed to overcome."

The Grizzlies could have an easier time against the Suns (7-15), although they needed OT - not to mention 38 points and 22 rebounds from Zach Randolph - to beat them 108-98 last Tuesday. Memphis also won 104-93 at home April 11, but has dropped 10 of 12 in Phoenix.

The Suns are desperate for a win anywhere. They've been outscored by an average of 12.9 points and outrebounded by an average of 6.8 boards during a seven-game losing streak - their longest since an eight-game slide in February 2004.

"We just have to find our identity," swingman Jared Dudley said.

Their woes continued Sunday with a 98-90 loss to Orlando in the opener of a five-game homestand. Phoenix forced 18 turnovers but couldn't slow down the Magic, who shot a season-high 51.9 percent and went 11 for 17 from the field in the fourth quarter.

"It's a real frustrating loss, real disappointing loss," said coach Alvin Gentry, whose team was outrebounded 44-29. "You know, we are playing spot basketball. We play good for two minutes then we're bad for seven, then we're good for five and we're bad for three. ... You just can't win any basketball games in this league when you play that way.

"It's not anything complicated. We just have to play better. We have to be able to rebound better, we have to make better basketball decisions."

Getting Goran Dragic back could also help. The Slovenian point guard, averaging team highs of 15.1 points and 6.4 assists, was held out Sunday due to the flu, leaving his status for this game unclear.

While Phoenix is giving up an average of 103.1 points to rank near the bottom of the league, Memphis is among the best in holding teams to just 91.2 per contest.

The Grizzlies, who visit Denver and Utah this weekend, have already faced all three opponents on this trip, and Conley said that may help.

"We get a good look at them and see how they play us and it allows us to prepare for them a little bit better," he said.

Suns edge Grizzlies 82-80

By JONATHAN DALTON
Posted Dec 13 2012 12:52AM

PHOENIX (AP) Goran Dragic wasn't about to miss another last-second shot.

Dragic made a short hook shot from the left baseline with 0.5 seconds remaining and the Phoenix Suns edged the Memphis Grizzlies 82-80 on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

"Last time, I missed the easy layup against Dallas so this time I told myself you have to make that one," Dragic said. "The play was improve for me. I play pick and roll and take that last shot."

Dragic took an inbound pass at the top of the key, drove to the baseline, spun around Marc Gasol and lofted a left-handed hook from the side of the paint.

"We were going to run a play, but it was going then to be a shot right away and we didn't want to do that," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "We wanted to try and use as much of the clock as we could. Goran just made a great play."

Dragic had 12 points, and Shannon Brown and Jared Dudley scored 15 each for the Suns, who won for the first time since Nov. 27 at Cleveland.

"We lost every possible way you can - close games, blowouts, bad teams, good teams, different ways, different lineups - and sometimes you forget how to win," Dudley said. "Now we can start trying to get this thing rolling."

Rudy Gay scored a game-high 21 points with 11 rebounds and Zach Randolph added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

"That's our game - taking care of the ball, executing and getting up and down on the court and that's what we're not doing right now," Randolph said. "These last two games we haven't been doing that."

Gay tied the game at 80-80 on a turnaround jumper from just to the right of the free-throw line with 46.8 seconds remaining. He had a chance to give the Grizzlies the lead with 12 seconds left, but his 17-foot jumper bounced off the rim, setting up Dragic's shot.

A lob attempt off the inbound pass by the Grizzlies was broken up by a pair of Phoenix defenders as time expired.

After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Suns took their first lead since the opening minutes on a layup by Dudley with 8:03 left in the third quarter before setting for a 63-all tie at the end of the period.

The teams traded baskets to open the final quarter before the Suns took a 73-72 lead on a 15-footer by Jermaine O'Neal with 7:35 remaining.

"When we are solid we can win some games," Dragic said.

Phoenix stretched the lead to 80-76 on a hook shot by Marcin Gortat with 4:05 remaining, but missed a pair of shots, turned the ball over twice and did not score again until Dragic's decisive basket.

"We were playing decent defense and getting stops but offensively we were not executing," Gasol said. "It's hard to win when you don't execute."

NOTES: The Suns have won five games this season after trailing by double digits, all at home. ... Phoenix is 4-3 in games decided by three points or fewer. ... Luis Scola returned to the Phoenix starting lineup after coming off the bench in the team's past 11 games. ... Memphis has not won in Phoenix since Dec. 8, 2010.

Notebook: Suns 82, Grizzlies 80

Jonathan Dalton, For NBA.com
Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:47 AM - Updated Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:47 AM

THE FACTS: Goran Dragic spun around Marc Gasol and sank a running left-handed hook shot with 0.5 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 82-80 Wednesday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Rudy Gay tied the game for Memphis on a 16-foot turnaround jumper over P.J. Tucker with 46.8 seconds left. But Gay's attempt to give the Grizzlies their first lead since the 7:07 mark of the fourth quarter went off the rim and was pulled down by Markieff Morris to set up Dragic's game-winning basket.

Shannon Brown and Jared Dudley had 15 points apiece, Dragic had 12 and Morris finished with 11 for the Suns (8-15), who won for the first time since Nov. 27 at Cleveland.

Gay scored 21 and pulled down 11 rebounds, Zach Randolph had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Gasol finished with 15 for the Grizzlies (14-5), who have lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

QUOTABLE: "That play was improv for me. I [played] pick and roll and [took] that last shot."

-- Goran Dragic

THE STAT: The Grizzlies outscored the Suns 60-38 in the paint in their 108-98 overtime win on Dec. 4. Despite Randolph's best efforts, Phoenix flipped the script tonight, outscoring Memphis 42-38 in the paint and pulled down 19 offensive rebounds to the Grizzlies' 10.

TURNING POINT: Through the game's first 20 minutes, the Suns were 12-for-39 from the floor --30.8 percent. Phoenix was 22-for-50 the rest of the way, a more respectable 44 percent.

QUOTABLE II: "The refs were letting us play out there. They weren't calling fouls on us, so we started hacking them. It was a big hack fest out there."

-- Jared Dudley

HOT: Dudley notched season highs in rebounds (9) and assists (5) and matched a season high with three steals. He finished 7-for-14 from the floor and has shot better than 50 percent from the field in four of his past five games.

NOT: Luis Scola returned to the Suns' starting lineup for the first time in 11 games, but scored only four points on 1-for-6 shooting in 13 minutes. Fellow Phoenix forward Michael Beasley was 2-for-11, also with for four points, in 10 minutes. Subtract those two shooting lines and the rest of the Suns shot 31-for-72 -- 43.1 percent.

NOTABLE: The Suns held on despite not scoring from the 4:05 mark of the fourth quarter until Dragic's basket.

IN THE ARENA: WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler and ring announcer Justin Roberts were courtside. ... Attendance was 13,093, more than 5,000 below capacity at US Airways Center.

UP NEXT: For the Grizzlies, Friday @ Nuggets, Saturday @ Jazz, Monday vs. Bulls. For the Suns, Friday vs. Jazz, Monday vs. Kings, Wednesday vs. Bobcats.

• Grizzlies: Wroten
• Suns: Frye, Marshall

• Grizzlies: --
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 13
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #36 David Jones, #30 John Goble, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 13093
• Duration: 2:15