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Jazz visit Memphis in key Western Conference matchup

Mar 21, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz can gain some ground in the hunt for a playoff berth when they continue a three-game road trip this evening against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.

Utah is two games behind the Grizzlies for the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference and didn't help its own cause with Sunday's 110-108 loss in Houston. Paul Millsap returned from a five-game absence due to tendinitis in his knee and recorded 35 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who got 17 points and 19 boards out of Al Jefferson.

"It was great to have him back," Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin said of Millsap. "Paul was tremendous on both ends of the court, both offensively and defensively."

C.J. Miles netted 19 points in the loss, Utah's third in five tries.

The Jazz will also visit Oklahoma City on the road swing and have dropped three straight away from Salt Lake City. They are 16-19 as the visitor.

Memphis has alternated wins and losses over its last four games and recorded a 99-78 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Tony Allen was busy with 19 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals for the Grizzlies, who improved to 24-10 as the host and is 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston for the final postseason spot. Memphis is also three games behind Denver for the fifth seed.

"I'm looking at the standings everyday for where we need to be," Allen said. "I'm just looking to do whatever I can to help whether it is passing out water, giving somebody a towel, congratulating someone or giving them some advice about the previous play or the next play; I just want to be able to help in any way possible."

Zach Randolph had his usual double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Mike Conley totaled 17 points, nine assists and four steals to help the Grizzlies rebound from a big loss at New York.

The Grizzlies are 18-0 at home when leading at halftime and 7-6 since Rudy Gay went down with a shoulder injury.

Utah leads the season series with Memphis by a 2-1 count and has won 13 of the previous 15 meetings between the teams. The Jazz, however, are winless in back-to-back contests in the Volunteer State after winning their previous six there.