Hornets-Grizzlies Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Jan 26 2013 2:58PM

While their defense has led to the franchise's best start through 41 games, the Memphis Grizzlies have been getting it done at both ends lately.

That's bad news for the New Orleans Hornets, who have taken a step back in their last two games.

The Grizzlies will try to stay within striking distance of the Southwest Division lead and win for the fifth time in six games on Sunday night when they wrap up a four-game homestand against the Hornets.

After losing three straight by an average of 22.7 points, Memphis (27-14) has won four of five to surpass the team's previous best start of 25-16 during the 2005-06 season.

The Grizzlies, who are five games behind division-leading San Antonio and rank near the top of the NBA in defensive scoring (89.2 ppg), have allowed 79.4 points per game over that five-game stretch.

They should be able to maintain that pace against a New Orleans team that has failed to reach 100 points in each of its last eight against the Grizzlies.

"One thing that we have had all season is our defense," said Memphis guard Rudy Gay.

Despite being ranked near the bottom of the league in bench scoring at 26.0 points per game, the Grizzlies have outscored their last three opponents by a 110-85 margin in that area. Jerryd Bayless, Tony Wroten and Chris Johnson combined for 32 as Memphis' bench gained a 38-24 advantage over Brooklyn's reserves in a 24-point victory on Friday.

"For us to win, we need our bench." forward Zach Randolph said. "The way they've been playing has been great. They've been stepping up."

The bench effort has been key with both Randolph and Gay slumping recently.

Randolph, named to the Western Conference All-Star team on Thursday, has averaged 12.2 points on 38.0 percent shooting in his last five games while battling a strained back.

Gay appears to be healthy, but has scored just 13.3 points per game while shooting 32.3 percent from the floor over his last four.

Gay, however, may be able to get back on track against the Hornets. He's averaged 26.0 on 57.1 percent shooting in his last three in the series, including a game-high 28 to lead Memphis to a 96-89 win at New Orleans on Dec. 7.

Even with their stars struggling, the Grizzlies have reached 100 points in back-to-back games after reaching the century mark only twice in the previous 24.

They also improved to 13-0 when scoring over 100 - a trend they hope to continue against the Hornets, who have allowed four consecutive opponents to reach that mark.

"We haven't been able to guard and hold teams under 100 points," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "That's where it starts for me. We have to defend better."

The Hornets (14-29), last in the Southwest, had won seven of nine before losing their last two.

Eric Gordon has averaged 17.6 points in 12 games back from a knee injury that cost him the first 29 games. New Orleans is 13-8 the past two seasons when he plays.

Ryan Anderson has been the other top weapon, averaging 20.3 points in his last four games.

The Hornets, however, shot 38.8 percent from the field and 3 for 20 (15.0 percent) from 3-point range in a 100-82 loss to Houston on Friday. They had scored 109.3 points per game and hit 31 for 66 (47.0 percent) from beyond the arc in their previous three.

The Hornets have dropped six of seven to New Orleans, including three straight in Memphis.

Anderson helps Hornets top Grizzlies 91-83

By CLAY BAILEY
Posted Jan 27 2013 10:38PM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) New Orleans reserve Ryan Anderson is quite the matchup problem. Memphis' scouting report on the 6-foot-10 forward said to treat him like a shooting guard.

The Grizzlies had the right approach, but they still couldn't stop him.

Anderson scored 22 points, connecting on seven 3-pointers, and New Orleans beat Memphis 91-83 on Sunday.

Anderson was 7 of 13 from the field, all of his attempts coming from outside the arc. He capped a late Hornets surge with a big shot that helped secure the win.

"He was huge for us," said point guard Greivis Vasquez, who finished with 11 assists. "This man is an underrated shooter. People don't give him enough credit. This guy can shoot."

Fellow reserve Jason Smith was 5 of 7 from the field for 16 points, and Anthony Davis was the only New Orleans starter to finish in double figures with 10 points.

Zach Randolph led Memphis with 20 points and 13 rebounds for his league-leading 28th double-double. Marc Gasol had 14 points and 11 boards, and Jerryd Bayless also scored 14. Rudy Gay had 10 points, but was 3 for 17 from the field, including a 1-for-7 performance from long range.

"Just taking too many jump shots," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said of Gay's off night. "Wasn't just him, but in the first quarter when he had the chance, we just took a lot of jump shots. Took a lot of jump shots, and we stopped making them."

New Orleans put the game away by outscoring Memphis 27-15 in the fourth quarter, and coach Monty Williams said it was a tough defensive approach and the ability of guys to make shots in key situations that made a difference.

"We don't have enough offensive firepower to go out and try to outscore teams," Williams said. "We have to play a game that is relatively ugly at times. Certain guys have to step up and make shots when certain shots are presented to them according to the flow of the offense."

The Grizzlies, who had won two in a row, played most of the game without starting point guard Mike Conley, who turned his ankle in the first quarter and did not return.

Conley's left foot was in a boot after the game. He said the pain was more bone than ankle, but X-rays were negative, and he said he will see about playing at Philadelphia on Monday.

Neither team shot particularly well. The Hornets finished at 43 percent, dragged down by Vasquez's 2-for-16 night.

"I shot the ball terrible," Vasquez said, "but it feels good to win the way we did. Guys like Jason played great. Guys like Ryan ... as a point guard, you are happy about that. It gives you more confidence that you can give those guys the ball, and you can run the offense more smooth."

Gasol was 5 for 14 for Memphis, which shot 36 percent. Gay missed 10 of 11 shots in the second half, including all four in the final quarter.

The game was close until New Orleans pulled away in the final 5 minutes. There were 17 lead changes and 16 ties.

"It was a domino effect," Gasol said. "We got down a couple of times because we couldn't execute and weren't running our stuff, and they were executing. Every time they looked for something, they found it.

"They hit some big shots at the end, and they pulled away."

Through three quarters, both teams were shooting just above 40 percent, but Memphis held a 68-64 lead. Davis had eight points in the third, hitting all four shots from the field.

Anderson hit two big 3-pointers early in the fourth, and the Hornets put together a 9-0 run to take an 86-76 lead. Smith made two jumpers during the decisive stretch, and Anderson finished it off with a 3.

New Orleans cruised from there.

"Obviously, making shots was huge for us to kind of eliminate a run for them," Anderson said. "At the same time, I was more focused on getting stops on the defensive end. I think my team did a great job of finding me, and I just took the shots I normally take when I'm open."

NOTES: Vasquez, who started his career with the Grizzlies, was 1 for 12 from the field in the first three quarters. His second field goal and ensuing free throw extended New Orleans' lead to 89-78. ... While Conley is day to day, Hollins said he expects the point guard to play at Philadelphia. ... Anderson's seven 3-pointers were one short of his career high. It also was the most 3-pointers by a Grizzlies opponent since Toney Douglas made nine for the New York Knicks on March 17, 2010. ... The Hornets are 3-10 on the road against the Western Conference. ... The Hornets are 2-11 when trailing entering the fourth quarter.

Notebook: Hornets 91, Hornets 83

L. Jason Smith, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:45 PM - Updated Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:45 PM

THE FACTS: The New Orleans Hornets had just one starter finish in double figures, but their bench was the story Sunday in a 91-83 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Reserve forwards Ryan Anderson and Jason Smith combined to score 38 of the Hornets' 51 bench points, including seven during a key 9-0 fourth-quarter scoring run, to help New Orleans (15-29) snap a two-game losing streak. Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies (28-15) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "Obviously making shots was huge for us to kind of eliminate a run for them. At the same time, I was more focused on getting stops on the defensive end. I think my team did a great job of finding me and I just took the shots I normally take when I'm open."
-- Anderson on his hot shooting from long range.

THE STAT: Anderson went 7-of-13 from 3-point range, helping New Orleans go 9-of-20 from deep as a team. The fifth-year forward's seven 3-pointers Sunday were just one off his career- and season-high of eight. Anderson didn't attempt a shot inside the arc in registering a game-high 22 points while adding five rebounds.

TURNING POINT: The game featured 16 ties and 17 lead changes before the Hornets took the lead for good on a Lance Thomas bucket with 9:37 left. It was still a one-point game (77-76) when New Orleans guard Eric Gordon converted a layup to start a 9-0 run. Smith (16 points) followed with made jump shots on back-to-back possessions before Anderson capped the run with a fadeaway 3-pointer with the shot-clock expiring.

HOT: Though he went 0-of-5 from 3-point range in a 100-82 loss to Houston on Friday, Anderson has shot 44.4 percent (16-of-36) from beyond the arc in New Orleans' last four games. He went 7-of-14 in a 114-105 win over Sacramento last Monday.

NOT: Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay remains mired in a shooting slump. He went 3-of-17 from the field against New Orleans on Sunday, finishing with 10 points. Gay has gone 24-of-82 (29.3 percent) from the floor over Memphis' last five games.

QUOTABLE II: "Just taking too many jump shots. We got to attack the basket. Wasn't just him, but in that first quarter when he had the chance, we just took a lot of jump shots."
-- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Gay's struggles offensively.

NOTABLE: Grizzlies guard Mike Conley sprained his left ankle early in the first quarter and didn't return. Conley was in a walking boot in the locker room after the game, but Hollins said Conley will "probably" play Monday when Memphis travels to face the Philadelphia 76ers. ... Anderson's seven 3-pointers were the most made against the Grizzlies since Toney Dogulas made nine on March 17, 2010 at New York. ... The Hornets limited the Grizzlies to 5-of-21 shooting in the fourth quarter. ... New Orleans is now 7-4 with Gordon back in the starting lineup (8-5 overall). Gordon finished with eight points and four steals. Greivis Vasquez, a former first-round pick of the Grizzlies, went 2-of-16 from the field in a five-point performance, but he added 11 assists.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Tuesday @ Clippers, Wednesday at Utah, Friday at Denver. For the Grizzlies, Monday @ Philadelphia, Thursday @ Oklahoma City, Friday vs. Washington.

• Hornets: --
• Grizzlies: Pondexter

• Hornets: --
• Grizzlies: --

• Lead Changes: 17
• Times Tied: 16

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #15 Bennett Salvatore, #12 Violet Palmer, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 16277
• Duration: 2:09