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Barone Sr. makes debut as Grizzlies host Raptors

Dec 30, 2006 - 4:26 PM Toronto (13-17) at Memphis (6-24) 8:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Tony Barone Sr. makes his coaching debut Saturday as the hapless Memphis Grizzlies face the Toronto Raptors.

Mired with the NBA's worst record, the Grizzlies became the first team to make a coaching change this season when Mike Fratello was fired Thursday.

Jerry West, the Grizzlies' president of basketball operations, tabbed Barone to take over on an interim basis.

The Grizzlies enter this contest in the midst of a five-game losing streak. They have been off since Wednesday's 112-96 setback to Milwaukee.

One positive for the Grizzlies is that they have won the last meetings from the Raptors.

T.J. Ford scored 20 points and rookie Andrea Bargnani added 16 off the bench as the Raptors suffered a 107-97 loss to Chicago on Friday.

Toronto continues to be without leading-scorer Chris Bosh due to a knee injury. He has missed the last 11 games, with the Raptors going 6-5 in his absence.