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Gay, Grizzlies host 76ers in matchup of struggling teams

Dec 22, 2007 - 3:45 PM Philadelphia (10-16) at Memphis (8-18) 8:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) - The Philadelphia 76ers will try to get back on the winning side when they visit the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

The Sixers are coming off their third loss in four games, including Friday's 106-101 setback at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers at home.

Philadelphia swingman Andre Iguodala hasn't fared well against the Grizzlies, who have kept the high-flyer to under 10 points in six career meetings in the series.

Iguodala will also have his hands full with Memphis second-year guard Rudy Gay, who is averaging 23.0 points through 11 games in December.

Gay scored 18 points but it wasn't enough as Memphis collected its worst loss of the season with Friday's 94-67 thrashing by the Detroit Pistons.

"We didn't have a lot of energy out there, and it got away from us," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "Obviously, it wasn't a pretty game. They were coming off a big win, and we wanted to come in and see what we could do."

Grizzlies big man Pau Gasol returned to the lineup after missing the past four games with a jammed right big toe, finishing with 10 points and 10 boards in the loss.

With Gasol back, Memphis should have an advantage in the paint over Philadelphia's 1-2 punch of Reggie Evans and Samuel Dalembert.