Final
Warriors-Grizzlies Preview
Mar 20, 2010 - 5:30 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS WriterGolden State (19-48) at Memphis (36-33), 8:00 p.m. EDT
Time is running out on Memphis' playoff hopes, but the Grizzlies have a chance to make up ground with a favorable schedule over the next five days.
That stretch includes two matchups against the short-handed Golden State Warriors, who will carry a 12-game road losing streak into the FedEx Forum on Saturday night.
Memphis (36-33) seemed to start a much-needed push toward ending its four-year postseason drought by winning five of six earlier this month. The Grizzlies, though, have dropped two of three since to fall 5 1/2 games behind eighth-place Portland in the Western Conference.
A 107-94 loss in Houston on Wednesday night snapped the Grizzlies' franchise-record seven-game road win streak. Memphis couldn't add to its two-point halftime lead as the Rockets shot 63 percent over the final 24 minutes. The teams are now tied for ninth in the West.
"The effort was there and we played hard," guard Mike Conley said. "They just shot the ball so well."
With 13 games remaining, the Grizzlies are short on opportunities to catch the Trail Blazers, so they're hoping to take advantage of three straight games against sub-.500 teams. After hosting the Warriors, they start a three-game road trip against Sacramento on Monday night then head to Oakland two days later.
Golden State could have just eight players available for the third straight game Saturday. Rookie guard Stephen Curry has missed the past two contests with a sprained left ankle and his status for Saturday is unknown.
Without Curry, the Warriors knocked off an equally short-handed New Orleans squad 131-121 on Wednesday night, but they couldn't keep up with San Antonio in a 147-116 defeat Friday night.
Monta Ellis (39 points) and Corey Maggette (30) tried to help Golden State (19-49) keep pace, but the Spurs never trailed while shooting 64.6 percent.
"Got another one tomorrow, so I'm not worrying about this," Ellis said. "I'm glad it's over with."
After beating Memphis at home on Nov. 4, the Warriors had eight players available Dec. 22 at the FedEx Forum and fell 121-108 despite 25 points from Maggette and 23 from Ellis. Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with a season-high 33 points and 18 rebounds.
Randolph, who had 30 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to Houston, will search for his sixth straight double-double since sitting out one game with lower back stiffness.
He'll try to take advantage of a Warriors team that's on the verge of its longest road losing streak in eight years. Golden State hasn't dropped 13 in a row away from home since Jan. 2-March 5, 2002.
The Warriors, 4-29 on the road this season, have been beaten by double digits in each of their past two trips to Memphis after winning three in a row there.
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol topped 20 points in each of those wins but he's missed the past two games with a strained neck muscle. His status is uncertain as Memphis tries goes for its fourth win in five games at home following an eight-game slide there.
The Grizzlies are also seeking their fifth win in six overall meetings with the Warriors since the beginning of last season.
- NBA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GOLDEN STATE 31 33 26 17 107
MEMPHIS 30 39 38 16 123 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: GSW - MONTA ELLIS 28, COREY MAGGETTE 20,
REGGIE WILLIAMS 15
MEM - RUDY GAY 25, O.J. MAYO 21, ZACH
RANDOLPH 20
Mar 20 10:23 PM - NBA
END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GOLDEN STATE 31 33 26 90
MEMPHIS 30 39 38 107 END 3RD QTR
HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER
GSW - MONTA ELLIS 24, COREY MAGGETTE 16,
REGGIE WILLIAMS 13
MEM - RUDY GAY 23, ZACH RANDOLPH 20,
O.J. MAYO 19
Mar 20 9:55 PM - NBA
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GOLDEN STATE 31 33 64
MEMPHIS 30 39 69 HALFTIME
HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME
GSW - MONTA ELLIS 18, THREE PLAYERS WITH 9
MEM - RUDY GAY 15, O.J. MAYO 14,
DARRELL ARTHUR 12
Mar 20 9:15 PM - NBA
GOLDEN STATE 31
MEMPHIS 30 END, 1ST QTR
Mar 20 8:38 PM
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