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Depleted Spurs look to start streak against slumping Grizzlies

Dec 30, 2007 - 2:14 PM Memphis (8-21) at San Antonio (20-8) 8:30 pm EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- If there was ever a good time for the Memphis Grizzlies to face the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, Sunday might be it.

The Spurs are 15-2 at home, but are an uncharacteristic 5-5 in their last 10 games overall. Included in that stretch are home defeats to the Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors.

The Spurs were without the services of top reserve Manu Ginoboli (sprained finger) and Brent Barry (torn calf muscle) in Friday's 83-73 setback to Toronto.

Memphis has lost four straight and 12 of its last 15 games. The Grizzlies are coming off Friday's 103-83 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Rockets.

"The sooner we can turn this around the better because, otherwise, the load just keeps getting heavier and heavier," said swingman Pau Gasol, who is averaging 17.4 points and 8.0 rebounds.

The Spurs have won six straight home games against the Grizzlies and are 19-5 all-time at home against Memphis.