• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Grizzlies try to stay hot in rematch with Hornets

Dec 16, 2008 - 2:50 PM New Orleans (13-7) at Memphis (9-15), 10:00pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Memphis Grizzlies, who have won four in a row and five in their last six games, may finally be starting to harness a bit of the young talent that has been developing over the last year or so.

But the Grizzlies will face a stiff test as they try to extend that streak on Tuesday against the New Orleans Hornets - the one team that has thrown a kink into Memphis' run over the last two weeks.

In a December 6 meeting in New Orleans, Chris Paul collected 21 points and 11 assists as the Hornets put the game away early, storming out to a 21-point lead after just one quarter en route to a 106-87 rout.

Memphis stars O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay got some rest as the game was never in doubt, but the Grizzlies' duo hasn't had many nights like that as the team has struggled for most of the campaign.

Mayo - the third overall pick in June's draft - and Gay, now in his third season, combine to score about 41 points per contest, making up 43 percent of the team's nightly output.

On Sunday, Mayo scored 28 points and knocked down four 3-pointers as the Grizzlies upset the Miami Heat, 102-86.

Of course, the Hornets are in the midst of a nice stretch of their own. They have won eight of 10 - with their only December blemish coming courtesy of the reigning champion Boston Celtics, who nobody has been able to beat over the last month.