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Lakers return home against lowly Grizzlies

Mar 3, 2009 - 11:45 AM Memphis (15-43) at LA Lakers (48-12) 10:30 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- A return home should help the Los Angeles Lakers avoid their longest losing streak this season.

The Lakers look to snap a two-game slide when they host the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Los Angeles, which owns the best record in the NBA, has yet to drop three games in a row this season but is coming off back-to-back road losses.

Following an ugly 11-point setback to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, reigning MVP Kobe Bryant poured in 49 points, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers dropped a 118-111 decision Sunday to the Phoenix Suns.

Los Angeles arrives back at Staples Center having won four straight contests at home and should keep those winning ways going against the Grizzlies, who have only four victories on the road this campaign.

Memphis has lost each of its last seven games, including a 99-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

Rudy Gay led Memphis with 20 points, but few fans were there to see it live. The announced crowd was 10,074, but there did not appear to be anywhere near that many people in attendance as many premium sections were littered with empty seats.