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West powers collide when Blazers battle Grizzlies

Jan 17, 2015 - 2:59 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies return home to the FedExForum with a three-game winning streak, but will face a tough test Saturday night in the form of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Grizzlies have won three in a row and three straight at home.

They swept a two-game road trip against the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic, including a 106-96 victory Friday night in Orlando.

Jeff Green made his presence known in his second game with the Grizzlies, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead Memphis. Green, acquired in three-team deal on Monday, threw down a thunderous dunk over Victor Oladipo in the third quarter and added two more slams after the Magic cut their deficit to four down the stretch.

"He's learning how to play off other guys," said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. "He's a really good cutter ... that's kind of where he made his money tonight."

All five Memphis starters finished in double figures. Marc Gasol filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, while Zach Randolph chipped in with 18 points and 12 boards. Tony Allen had 17 and Beno Udrih, starting in place of Mike Conley, finished with 15.

Orlando cut the deficit to four with under two minutes to play, but Green answered with a slam off a nice pass from Gasol, and after Orlando's Elfrid Payton missed from long range, Green went baseline on Oladipo for a second time and finished it with another dunk to all but seal the win.

Conley has two sprained ankles and there's no timetable for his return. Friday's game was his first missed contest of the season.

Memphis begins a five-game homestand Saturday and will welcome the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic on this residency.

The Blazers have dropped two straight and the slide started Wednesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. They opened a brutal weekend road trip with a 110-96 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

Portland couldn't handle the returning Kawhi Leonard, who scored 20 points in his first action since a 15-game absence with a hand injury.

LaMarcus Aldridge tallied 24 points with eight rebounds and Damian Lillard, who scored 43 points in the 129-119 triple overtime win on Dec. 19, went for 23 points and five assists in this one.

"We didn't do a good job keeping them off the boards," said Aldridge. "We didn't do a good job of finding bodies. We'll learn from it."

San Antonio held a 49-32 edge on the glass and the Blazers only compiled 20 assists. Portland did shoot 50 percent from the field.

C.J. McCollum chipped in 17 off the bench and Meyers Leonard added 12 for the second unit.

The Grizzlies defeated the Blazers by 13 in Portland on Nov. 28 and have taken six of the last seven in this series. The Grizzlies are 4-1 in their last versus the Blazers in Memphis.