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Grizzlies-Rockets Preview

Nov 11, 2009 - 6:49 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Memphis (1-7) at Houston (4-3), 8:30 p.m. EDT

With or without Allen Iverson, the Memphis Grizzlies are not playing very good basketball. Visiting the Houston Rockets might not make things better.

Still without the former All-Star point guard, the Grizzlies look to avoid a seventh consecutive loss - and their seventh straight on the road against the Rockets - on Wednesday night.

With Iverson still away from the team because of personal reasons, Memphis (1-7) lost 93-79 at home to Portland on Tuesday. The Grizzlies are off to their worst start since losing eight of their first nine in 2005-06.

Iverson's absence continues to cast a shadow over a club that's 0-5 on the road and allowing 112.0 points per contest overall.

Signed in the offseason, Iverson missed the first three games with a torn hamstring. He averaged 12.3 points in the three games he played, but wasn't happy coming off the bench in each game. He's missed the last two games and has reportedly returned to his home in Atlanta.

"I'm trying to get (the Grizzlies) to a certain place," coach Lionel Hollins said. "If we get to that place, and it's good, then if Allen does come back, then obviously, he has to fit into that place."

Tuesday's effort proved the Grizzlies are far from where Hollins wants them. Marc Gasol had 20 points and O.J. Mayo added 17, but Memphis shot 37.2 percent from the field in its eighth straight loss to Portland.

Making matters worse, 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet - the second overall pick in this year's draft - suffered a fractured jaw late in the first quarter. Thabeet had four points and 11 rebounds in seven games. It's unclear when he'll return.

Gasol has been one of the few bright spots for the Grizzlies. After averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds during his rookie season, the 7-footer is posting 16.0 points and 11.3 boards per contest through eight games.

Though Mayo averaged 17.5 points in four games against Houston as a rookie last season, he was held to 20 on 9-for-33 shooting in two road contests versus the Rockets.

Houston (4-3) looks to bounce back from a 121-103 loss at Dallas on Tuesday. Aaron Brooks had 22 points and Carl Landry scored 19 as the Rockets fell for the second time in three games after winning three in a row. Houston led by as much as 17 but hit only 5 of 22 shots in a decisive third quarter.

Trevor Ariza entered the contest averaging a team-leading 20.2 points, but he was held to a season-low nine.

"We took quick shots," said Brooks, who's averaging 18.9 points this season, but 8.5 in four career games against the Grizzlies. "We got out of sync in our offense."

While Houston star Tracy McGrady won't make his season debut in this contest, he could be close to returning after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee in February.

"He's been able to practice and doesn't have the pain he had last year," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who was quick to dismiss a report that said McGrady planned to return against Minnesota on Nov. 18. "He still has a long ways to go as far as running the court and moving defensively."

Though it gave up a season high point total Tuesday, Houston is holding Memphis to an average of 87.7 and 41.2 percent shooting during its six-game home winning streak in the series.