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Nuggets look extend mastery of Grizzlies

Mar 18, 2009 - 12:38 AM By Brett Huston Stats Writer

Denver (43-25) at Memphis (17-49), 8:00 p.m. EDT

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) -- Three straight wins have the Denver Nuggets back on top of the Northwest Division, and the opponent standing in their way of extending their streak isn't too intimidating.

Denver's recent play on the road, however, makes another victory anything but certain.

The Nuggets will try for their seventh consecutive victory against the woeful Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, but to do so they'll have to put an end to a six-game road losing streak.

Denver (43-25) lost its grip atop the division it had led since December with five losses in six games - including four on the road - to kick off March, but three definitive wins have it back in first place.

The Nuggets put an end to their three-game skid by beating Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers by 13 points apiece, then recorded an emphatic 121-96 win over New Jersey on Monday, exacting revenge for a 44-point loss to the Nets in early February.

"We're getting better. We're coming back to where we need to be at," said guard Chauncey Billups, who's averaged 9.3 assists during the three-game winning streak.

Denver scored 121 points on Monday despite no player reaching 20, in large part due to the contributions of its bench. J.R. Smith hit six 3-pointers and had 19 points, upping his average to 18.0 over his last six games.

Smith's 19 were part of a 50-point effort from the bench. Coach George Karl's reserves, among the most productive in the league with 32.3 points per game, have put up 40.7 during the three-game run.

"I was really happy with the second unit," Karl said after his bench extended an 11-point lead after three quarters. "They were on the fence of substitution, and instead of giving the game back to the first unit they took the game back and finished it off. I think we need some more of that."

The bench, though, has averaged 25.5 points in the six straight road losses.

Memphis (17-49) has lost 13 of 15 and hasn't gotten enough scoring from anywhere. The Grizzlies score a league-low 93.3 points per game and are averaging 87.0 over their last five, including matchups against top-10 defensive teams Boston, Detroit, Houston and Portland.

They've dropped four of those five, falling 103-92 to the visiting Trail Blazers on Monday.

"I just want us to continue to learn and get better," coach Lionel Hollins said. "These are all little lessons playing these good teams in a row. Being physical and having to be tough physically and mentally in order to endure."

The Grizzlies lost two of their big bodies early in the loss to the Blazers. Reserve Darko Milicic strained his lower back in the first quarter and didn't return, and later in the half Darrell Arthur left with a strained right knee.

It's unclear if either will be available against Denver, which has won both games against the Grizzlies this season by double digits after sweeping all four meetings in 2007-08.

Rookie O.J. Mayo has averaged 25.0 points in the two losses to the Nuggets, but it's been another member of the Grizzlies' young backcourt who has played well recently.

Second-year guard Mike Conley, who's averaged 5.8 points in five career games against Denver, has averaged 19.2 in Memphis' last six.