Nuggets 72 - 81 Grizzlies
Final
  for this game

Grizzlies seek to halt skid vs. Nuggets

Dec 29, 2012 - 3:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies will try to halt a two-game losing streak on Saturday night when they host the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies lost a home contest to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, 99-89 and one week ago, they fell in Houston to the Rockets, 121-96.

"We just got to sure some things up. There is no need to panic at this time," Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter said. "I think we'll be just fine later on."

Against the Sixers, the Memphis frontline was its usual spectacular self. Zach Randolph led the way with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Marc Gasol contributed 18 points, eight boards and eight assists. Pondexter chipped in 13 points in the absence of Rudy Gay, who missed the game due to personal reasons.

Memphis ranks second in opponents' scoring and sixth in opponents' field-goal percentage, but struggled against the Sixers, an offensively-challenged squad that is 25th in points. The Sixers shot 52.1 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

The Grizzlies hope those struggles don't continue tonight given how hot the Nuggets were from long range on Friday.

Denver shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range in a 106-85 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, with Danilo Gallinari hitting seven of his 11 attempts from behind the arc on the way to a career-high 39 points.

Gallinari also had eight rebounds, while Andre Iguodala had 20 points with eight boards as Denver won for the sixth time in eight games.

"I think we did our jobs," said Denver coach George Karl. "We knew they'd played (Thursday) night, kind of had a tough loss, and we sustained a pretty intense, aggressive game for most of the night."

Kenneth Faried added 11 points and 19 rebounds in the victory.

Memphis has won 23 of its last 26 overall at home, but the Nuggets are 2-0 this season against the Grizzlies. Prior to those wins, Memphis had won three in a row against Denver, which plays 15 of its next 18 at home beginning on Jan. 1.






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