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Big game on tap between Grizzlies, Raptors

Nov 19, 2014 - 3:21 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Two of the NBA's best teams - the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors - will battle for league supremacy Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre.

The Grizzlies are the NBA's only 10-win team and own the league's best mark. The Raptors' eight victories are tied for the most in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls, but their winning percentage (.800) sits them atop the standings.

Memphis reached the double-digit win mark Monday night with a 119-93 home thrashing of the Houston Rockets. Houston also had nine wins, but left with that same number.

"I liked what I saw from our team tonight. We showed growth," Grizzlies coach David Joerger said. "It was fantastic. I'm very proud of our guys."

Mike Conley led seven players in double figures with 19 points to help the Grizzlies to a season-high point total. That came against the No. 1 ranked defense in opponents' scoring.

Courtney Lee deposited 15 points and Zach Randolph supplied 14 points with seven rebounds for Memphis, which extended its home record to 6-0 and have now won 20 straight at FedEx Forum dating back to last season.

Reserves Quincy Pondexter, Beno Udrih and Jon Leuer each netted 13 points in the triumph.

The Grizzlies are now the top-ranked team in terms of opponents' scoring at 91.5 ppg. They will need to showcase that defense as the Raptors are fifth in the NBA in scoring at 106.0 ppg.

Toronto, which has been off since Saturday, is also in the top 10 in opponents' scoring at 96.4 ppg.

DeMar DeRozan had 27 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 17 and 14 rebounds and the Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz 111-93 on Saturday night at Air Canada Centre.

Kyle Lowry posted 19 points for the Raptors, who were coming off a home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

"It's always important to bounce back. That's a tough team we played. We needed a bounce-back game," Lowry said.

Patrick Patterson managed 16 off the bench and Lou Williams chipped in 13 for the second unit.

James Johnson injured his ankle and won't be available Wednesday.

The Raptors plan to honor Memphis' Vince Carter with a video during Wednesday's game. This is the 20-year anniversary of the franchise and Carter is second in Raptors' history in total points, first in scoring average, sixth in games played and third in minutes played.

For Toronto's part, the Raptors are trying to downplay the matchup with Memphis.

"It doesn't make or break your season," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "I'm not going to jump off the building if something happens and I'm not going to jump and down and do snow angels if we win. It goes both ways."

The Raptors swept the two meetings with the Grizzlies last season, but Memphis is 8-3 in its last 11 in the series. The two sides have split the previous eight meetings north of the border.