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Grizzlies try to keep pace, visit Utah

Apr 10, 2015 - 2:04 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies are caught up in the Southwest Division race and look to get things sorted on their final road trip of the season.

The Grizzlies will start a three-game trek Friday versus the Utah Jazz and will also visit the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. They are 23-15 away from FedExForum this season.

Memphis sits even with the Houston Rockets for the Southwest lead and the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs are a half-game behind. The Grizzlies and Rockets are also tied for the No. 2 spot in the West - one-half game ahead of the Clippers and Spurs.

In the finale of a four-game homestand (3-1) on Wednesday, the Grizzlies recorded a 110-74 beating of the playoff-hopeful New Orleans Pelicans and received 15 points from Jeff Green, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph grabbed 13 rebounds and Beno Udrih added 14 points off the bench for Memphis, which made 51 percent from the floor and had a 52-39 rebounding advantage.

"We played with a lot of pace," said Memphis coach David Joerger. "The ball was moving, and guys got up and down the floor. That was fantastic for us."

The Grizzlies are expected to make a deep run in the upcoming playoffs and have won eight of their last 13 games. They are in the middle of the pack in scoring (98.5 ppg), but one of the best on defense. Memphis is second in opponents' scoring at 95.1 ppg and Utah is first at 94.6 ppg.

Memphis is 40-4 when outshooting its opponent and 17-2 when making at least 50 percent from the field. It is 34-15 against the Western Conference this season.

Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (ankle) is questionable against the Jazz.

Utah has won two straight and five of six games, including Wednesday's 103-91 triumph versus the Sacramento Kings.

Rodney Hood scored 20 points, Derrick Favors had 18 with 11 boards and Rudy Gobert finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win. The Jazz shot 49 percent for the game, recorded a 47-31 advantage on the glass and held the Kings to 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Utah took advantage of a Sacramento squad playing without DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Darren Collison.

The Jazz are playing out the string under new coach Quin Snyder and will visit Portland next on Saturday.

"We learned a lot this year, hopefully we can carry that over into next year," Favors said.

Hood is also looking forward to what could be a promising 2015-16 campaign.

"My goal for the rest of this year is to just try to win as much as we can," Hood said. "It's going to be a real big offseason for everybody on the team, one of the best offseasons for all of us because we know we have something special ahead."

The Jazz are 2-1 against the Grizzlies this season, but Memphis is still 8-3 in the previous 11 matchups between the teams.