Grizzlies 93 - 87 Pelicans
Final
  for this game

Grizzlies invade New Orleans

Jan 18, 2012 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - Fresh off a win over a Derrick Rose-less Chicago team, the Memphis Grizzlies will invade the Big Easy tonight in hopes on climbing above .500 for the first time this season against the Hornets.

Rudy Gay scored 24 points on Monday while Mike Conley filled the stat sheet with 20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals as the Grizzlies routed the Bulls, 102-86, in their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game.

Marc Gasol had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Marreese Speights netted 16 points with 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who won their season-high third straight game. They shot 54 percent from the field against Chicago, which came into the contest limiting its opponents to 41.3 percent shooting -- tied for third in the NBA.

"They are a great defensive team and I just tried to penetrate and make plays for guys," Conley said. "To beat a good team like Chicago, you have to have energy. You have to outwork them. That's what we wanted to do from the beginning of the game, pick up fullcourt, inbounds plays and make a statement that we're going to be in this game for all four quarters."

Memphis, however, has played poorly on the road this season. The Grizz, who will play six of their next seven away from Beale Street, are just 1-4 as the visitor on the year and barely averaging 80 points in those contests.

The Hornets, meanwhile, have dropped four straight, including a 108-99 setback in Memphis last Saturday. New Orleans followed that with an 84-77 home loss to Portland, it's ninth loss in 10 games.

Jarrett Jack ended with 21 points for the Hornets, who have lost six in a row at home for the first time since Feb. 22-March 18, 2006.

Emeka Okafor tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which is just 3-10 on the season and 1-6 in NOLA. Chris Kaman donated 12 points and six boards.

"We just shot ourselves in the foot," Okafor said. "We played good defense and set our turnovers across the board. We just have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball."

The Hornets remain without normal starters Eric Gordon (right knee) and Trevor Ariza (right groin), although the team hopes Ariza will be back in the lineup by the end of the week.

Memphis has won three straight overall vs. the Hornets.






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