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Raptors try to snap out of funk vs. Grizzlies

Feb 7, 2009 - 1:06 PM Toronto (19-33) at Memphis (13-36) 8:00 p.m. EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Things have gone from bad to worse for the Toronto Raptors. After recovering from a seven-game losing streak to win three straight at the end of last month, the Raptors have proceeded to drop five straight.

A season that began with the expectation of a third straight playoff appearance has completely slipped away, as the Raptors have sunk to the second-lowest spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Though playoff chances are obviously slim, the team can at least try to snap out of its most recent funk when it visits the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

Toronto looked primed to put another one in the win column on Friday before surrendering a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter as the New Orleans Hornets took control en route to a 101-92 victory. While the Hornets were without superstar point guard Chris Paul (groin), the Raptors had to deal with the absence of All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who is out for the next few days with a sprained right knee.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have shown some recent improvement under new head coach Lionel Hollins, who has helped the club open things up offensively since his hiring on January 25. That resulted in two straight wins before the team got blown out by the lowly Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Standout rookie O.J. Mayo struggled to a 3-of-9, 10-point effort in a losing cause, while Rudy Gay led the way with 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting.