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Nuggets try to stop slide against Grizzlies

Dec 28, 2013 - 3:57 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Denver Nuggets are mired in a season-high five-game losing streak and look to bounce back Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.

The Nuggets dropped their fifth in a row with Friday's 105-89 setback against the New Orleans Hornets, as Wilson Chandler led the way with 22 points and J.J. Hickson added 16 and 10 rebounds. Ty Lawson ended with 14 points and 12 assists for Denver, which committed 17 turnovers and failed to reach 100 points in its fifth straight game.

"We still had a chance after we cut it to nine points in the last minutes, but we just couldn't come back," Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw said.

Denver forward Kenneth Faried missed his second straight game with an ankle sprain and is questionable Saturday. He is averaging 9.8 points and 8.0 rebounds.

The Nuggets are 7-8 away from the Pepsi Center and will start a three-game homestand Monday versus Miami, Philadelphia and Memphis.

Memphis saw a short winning streak come to an end on Thursday thanks to a 100-92 setback in Houston to the Rockets.

The Rockets went on a 19-4 run with Dwight Howard on the bench, turning a 76-66 deficit into an 85-80 lead with 5 1/2 minutes remaining.

Zach Randolph scored 23 points with 17 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost for the third time in their last nine road games. James Johnson scored 12 off the bench and Mike Conley added 11. Kosta Koufos grabbed 11 rebounds and Tayshaun Prince returned from a short injury absence to score nine points in 25:26 of action.

"They double teamed and we didn't get the space, we didn't make a lot of shots," Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger said of the Rockets' adjustments. "My hats are off to them. They're a really good team."

The Grizzlies were a dominant home team last season (32-9), but are just 6-10 this season at FedExForum. They host Chicago on Monday, then hit the road after New Year's Day.

The Nuggets won three of four from the Grizzlies last season, but Memphis is 5-2 in its last seven at home against Denver.