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Grizzlies take on Suns in the desert

Dec 8, 2010 - 4:06 PM (Sports Network) - The struggling Memphis Grizzlies hope to snap a four-game skid tonight when they resume a four-game road trip in the desert against the Phoenix Suns.

The Grizzlies fell to 0-2 on their trek Monday in Salt Lake City when Deron Williams scored 27 points and dished out eight assists, as the Utah Jazz defeated Memphis, 94-85.

Mike Conley finished with 19 points and five assists for the Grizzlies, who have lost six straight on the road and are a dismal 2-9 as the visitor this year. Rudy Gay had 18 points and eight boards, while Zach Randolph tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds in defeat.

"We played hard enough," Conley said. "We played with effort and we played more like ourselves and gave ourselves a chance to win against a really good team that plays very well at home. We knew we were going to have to give everything we had if we were going to win this game and break this slump we are on."

Memphis will finish its trek in LA against the Clippers on Saturday.

The Suns, who are opening up a three-game homestand tonight, are coming off a tough loss in Portland on Tuesday. Wesley Matthews scored 24 points in that one, as the Trail Blazers used a late run to earn a 106-99 victory over Phoenix.

Steve Nash totaled 24 points and 15 assists for the Suns, who had won their last three coming in. Grant Hill ended with 23 points and eight boards for the Suns, while Channing Frye and Jared Dudley each added 13 points for Phoenix, which continues to play without starting center Robin Lopez (left knee sprain).

"We made a couple mistakes that we can't afford to make, and that gave them the cushion," Nash said.

The Suns are 6-3 in the desert and have won four consecutive as the host. The team will also face Portland and Minnesota on the residency.

These two teams have already split a pair of meetings this year with each holding serve on its home floor. Phoenix rallied for a thrilling 123-118 double-overtime win on Nov. 5. in the desert when Jason Richardson netted five of his 38 points in the final 1.1 seconds of regulation, including a tip-in at the buzzer that forced the extra frames.