Final
Wizards entertain Grizzlies in nation's capital
Nov 19, 2010 - 4:29 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Wizards could be without rookie sensation John Wall for a third straight game tonight, when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to the Verizon Center.Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft, has missed back-to-back games with a foot sprain and is averaging 18.1 points and 9.8 assists so far this season. Wall is listed as questionable for Friday's game.
Washington has lost three of four games and fell to 3-7 on the season following Wednesday's 114-83 loss at Boston in which Nick Young recorded 20 points off the bench and is averaging 17.0 points over his last three games. Al Thornton netted 15 points, while Kirk Hinrich and Andray Blatche each had 10 in defeat. The Wizards were down by as many as 17 points.
"We couldn't establish anything at all," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said. "They challenged every pass, every dribble. It was like men playing against boys tonight. They just manhandled us at every spot."
Hinrich is averaging 10.3 points, 7.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds in his last three games. The Wizards had gone five straight games with at least 25 assists, but handed out only 12 in Beantown. Gilbert Arenas, in his second straight start, was limited to nine points.
Wizards center Yi Jianlian (knee) is questionable for tonight. JaVale McGee will most likely start in the middle and had eight points and 10 boards against the Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies will try to put the brakes on a four-game losing streak when they make a stop in DC this evening.
In Tuesday's 100-99 loss versus the injury-riddled Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Gay had a team-high 20 points and Zach Randolph posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 boards for Memphis, which got 17 points from O.J. Mayo and 16 points out of Mike Conley. Conley missed a three at the buzzer.
"You got to give them credit. They've got a star player out, and they played good," Randolph said of the Brandon Roy-less Blazers.
Wesley Matthews filled in for Roy and scored a career-high 30 points.
Gay had two steals and passed Shareef Abdur-Rahim (416) for second place on the franchise list. Shane Battier holds the top spot with 507 swipes. The Grizzlies have started the season 4-8 for a third year in a row and lead the league in steals (10.83), forced turnovers (19.8) and points off turnovers (21.6).
Memphis took both matchups with Washington a year ago and has won four straight and 10 of the last 14 meetings between the teams.
- MEMPHIS: 86
WASHINGTON: 89
Final
Nov 19 9:37 PM - MEMPHIS: 68
WASHINGTON: 66
End of Regulation
Nov 19 8:57 PM - MEMPHIS: 45
WASHINGTON: 43
Halftime
Nov 19 8:13 PM - MEMPHIS: 24
WASHINGTON: 25
Halftime
Nov 19 7:39 PM
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