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Grizzlies try to figure out home woes with Magic in town

Dec 9, 2013 - 2:36 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Orlando Magic will try to get their first victory on this long road trip Monday night when they visit FedExForum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Magic are 0-4 on this current sojourn and they've lost five straight overall. Orlando will visit Charlotte on Wednesday to mercifully end this trek.

The Magic's losing streak reached five on Sunday evening when the Houston Rockets buried Orlando, 98-88. The game wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Houston held a 22-point lead after three quarters.

"We just didn't have the best shooting night," said guard Arron Afflalo. "I thought the effort to get back in the game was pretty good. I guess if anything, we understand what it takes for us to at least compete and stay in games. To me, it's just another loss. It's time to get a victory somehow, someway."

The Magic, who are still without center Nikola Vucevic due to a sprained ankle, only shot 34.4 percent from the field and 27 percent from long distance.

Glen Davis led Orlando with 18 points, followed by 16 from Afflalo and 15 from Jameer Nelson. E'Twaun Moore chipped in 12 off the bench and Andrew Nicholson netted 11.

The Grizzlies have lost three of their last four and five of six at home. The Grizz are just 4-7 at FedExForum this season, which is shocking considering they went a franchise-best 32-9 in their own building last season.

In the five recent losses at home, Memphis failed to score 90 points. Yes, the Grizzlies are without Marc Gasol, who is nursing a knee injury, but they need to start scoring the basketball.

"NBA seasons are long. Things happen, teams go through stuff," said Memphis head coach Dave Joerger. "We need to play with more energy, more joy. We have nothing to lose."

Their most recent setback came Saturday night in Memphis against the Golden State Warriors. Golden State thumped the Grizz, 108-82. Tony Allen missed another game with a hip issue and Ed Davis sat with an ankle problem. Quincy Pondexter left in the second quarter with a foot ailment.

Against the Warriors, Mike Miller led the way with 16 points off the bench. Jon Leuer and Zach Randolph each scored 15, while Mike Conley managed 12 points. Kosta Koufos registered a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.

The Grizzlies have won four straight against the Magic and Orlando has lost five in a row and 10 of its last 11 in Memphis.