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Struggling Pistons entertain Grizzlies

Jan 20, 2012 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - Many thought the Memphis Grizzlies would be in trouble after Zach Randolph went down with a torn MCL, but that hasn't been the case.

The Grizzlies are 6-3 since the big man went down and will shoot for a fifth straight win tonight against a lowly Detroit Pistons team at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Memphis made it four wins in a row with a 93-87 victory at New Orleans on Wednesday, as Marc Gasol finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Mike Conley added 18 points and 10 assists for Memphis, which shot 49.3 percent from the floor.

O.J. Mayo provided 16 points off the bench and both Rudy Gay and Tony Allen added 12 points in a winning effort.

"I liked our focus, our intensity and our discipline at the beginning of the game," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said. "I told our coaches that if we could battle that for 48 minutes, that would be what we're trying to build to."

Memphis moved above the .500 mark for the first time this season (7-6). It is in the midst of playing six of seven games on the road and owns a 2-4 mark away from Beale Street this season.

Detroit has played poorly this season as evidenced by its 3-12 record and will play two straight and four of the next five games at The Palace.

The Pistons have lost three straight and nine of 10 games, and are winless in the last four games as the host. In Wednesday's 93-85 setback at Minnesota, Tayshaun Prince ended with a season-best 29 points and Ben Gordon finished with 18 for Detroit, which got 13 points and 12 rebounds from Greg Monroe.

"We can't keep playing well for 42 minutes and then the last six minutes give the game away," said Monroe. "As a team, we have to get better and finishing and putting the game away."

Detroit will also host Portland before visiting Oklahoma City, and then will return to Auburn Hills for back-to-back games versus Miami and Atlanta. Prince has scored 20 or more points in three straight games and is averaging 23.0 ppg in that stretch. Monroe is posting 17.0 points and 10.5 boards in his last six games for a Pistons team averaging a league-low 85.0 ppg.

Pistons guard Will Bynum (foot) is probable for this evening. Detroit is just 2-5 as the host this season and hasn't lost five straight at home since the 2009-10 campaign.

Memphis swept a home-and-home series with Detroit a season ago and has won four of the last five matchups. The Grizzlies are unbeaten in three straight trips to The Palace.