Lakers 116 - 111 Grizzlies
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Lakers, Grizzlies battle on Beale Street

Mar 13, 2012 - 6:09 PM (Sports Network) - Despite persistent trade rumors involving Pau Gasol, the Lakers find themselves in a familiar position, atop the Pacific Division, thanks in large part to their acumen at Staples Center.

The road has been a different story for LA, however, and the Lakers will be attempting to win consecutive games away from Southern California for just the second time this season when they visit fellow Western Conference contender Memphis.

The Lakers have won two straight overall, including Sunday's 97-94 thriller over Boston in LA. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 41.7 seconds remaining in that one.

Bryant tallied 10 points in the final frame for Los Angeles, which closed the game on an 8-0 run and is now 1 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers in the Pacific.

Andrew Bynum finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Gasol added 13 points, 13 boards and five assists for the Lakers, who have won nine straight games at Staples Center and are 18-2 on the season as the host.

Conversely, LA, which is currently the third seed in the West, one-half game ahead of the Grizzlies, is just 7-14 on the road as it begins a brief two- game sojourn that will also include a visit to New Orleans.

"I just think that Kobe has always continued in that evolution in terms of doing different things to try to get us to the top and trying to get us to a championship level team," guard Derek Fisher told the Lakers' website. "I believe we have always been pretty dangerous down the stretch because it's difficult to decide what to do. It's tough for teams to make a choice."

Memphis, which is opening a three-game homestand tonight, is fresh off winning the finale of a three-game road trip in Denver on Sunday. O.J. Mayo scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting and made a key three-pointer down the stretch of that one to help the Grizzlies upend the Nuggets, 94-91.

Mike Conley added 13 points and seven assists and Dante Cunningham scored 12 points off the bench for Memphis, which rebounded after having a five-game winning streak snapped in Phoenix on Saturday.

"The guys just played extremely hard and competed for 48 minutes," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said.

Rudy Gay, however, suffered a mild concussion when Denver's Nene inadvertently struck him in the head with an elbow and has been ruled out for tonight's game.

The Grizz have won six straight on Beale Street and are 15-5 as the host on the year. Memphis hasn't won seven consecutive home games since an 11-game run from Dec. 18, 2009-Jan. 25, 2010.

The Lakers have won two straight over the Grizz, including a 90-82 win in LA back on Jan. 8.






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