duncan228
12-30-2007, 11:38 AM
http://www.nba.com/games/20071230/MEMSAS/preview.html?nav=scoreboardhome
Grizzlies-Spurs Preview
By Kate Hedlin, STATS Writer
The San Antonio Spurs are coming off one of their worst performances of the season. Now they'll look for a bit of revenge against a team that handed them one of their most surprising losses of the year.
The Spurs try to avoid losing twice to a team with one of the NBA's worst records when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
The Grizzlies (8-21) have the second-worst record in the Western Conference, but they pulled off a 88-85 win in their last meeting with the Spurs (20-8) on Dec. 19. Memphis led by 23 points in that game, and although the Spurs rallied, Rudy Gay hit a 3-pointer as time expired for the win.
The Spurs are trying to bounce back from another tough loss after falling 83-73 to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. San Antonio was held to a season low in points, shot a season-worst 31.9 percent, and committed 19 turnovers that led to 22 Toronto points.
The Spurs have lost three out of their last five games, and coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing that a foul wasn't called.
"We got shots that we usually knock out, and they didn't go out tonight," said Tim Duncan, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
San Antonio was without Manu Ginobili, who is averaging 19.2 points, but missed his second straight game after spraining his index finger in the opening minutes last Saturday against the Clippers. Key reserve Brent Barry also missed the game because of a torn muscle in his left calf, and will be out for up to two weeks.
Michael Finley led the Spurs with 20 points. Tony Parker, who scored 28 points two nights earlier in a win against Chicago, was held to 15 on 4-of-12 shooting.
Sunday is the finale of a four-game homestand for the Spurs. Their Western Conference-leading home record fell to 15-2 with Friday's loss.
The Grizzlies have been unable to build off that win over the Spurs two weeks ago, losing four straight since then, including a 103-83 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Pau Gasol scored 23 points and added eight rebounds while Darko Milicic had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies shot just 36 percent from the field and their 14 turnovers resulted in 18 Houston points.
"The shooting was hard to open up," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "We were turning down open shots. It wasn't good for the shooting muscles. When you have a shot, you have to take it. We have no confidence."
Three of their last four losses have been by 18 or more points.
"The sooner we can turn this around the better because, otherwise, the load just keeps getting heavier and heavier," Gasol said.
The only team Memphis has defeated more than once this season is Seattle. With a win Sunday, the Grizzlies would earn a split of the four-game season series against the Spurs.
The Spurs have won six straight at home against the Grizzlies, including a 101-88 win on Nov. 23 in which Duncan scored a game-high 28 points.
Grizzlies-Spurs Preview
By Kate Hedlin, STATS Writer
The San Antonio Spurs are coming off one of their worst performances of the season. Now they'll look for a bit of revenge against a team that handed them one of their most surprising losses of the year.
The Spurs try to avoid losing twice to a team with one of the NBA's worst records when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
The Grizzlies (8-21) have the second-worst record in the Western Conference, but they pulled off a 88-85 win in their last meeting with the Spurs (20-8) on Dec. 19. Memphis led by 23 points in that game, and although the Spurs rallied, Rudy Gay hit a 3-pointer as time expired for the win.
The Spurs are trying to bounce back from another tough loss after falling 83-73 to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. San Antonio was held to a season low in points, shot a season-worst 31.9 percent, and committed 19 turnovers that led to 22 Toronto points.
The Spurs have lost three out of their last five games, and coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing that a foul wasn't called.
"We got shots that we usually knock out, and they didn't go out tonight," said Tim Duncan, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
San Antonio was without Manu Ginobili, who is averaging 19.2 points, but missed his second straight game after spraining his index finger in the opening minutes last Saturday against the Clippers. Key reserve Brent Barry also missed the game because of a torn muscle in his left calf, and will be out for up to two weeks.
Michael Finley led the Spurs with 20 points. Tony Parker, who scored 28 points two nights earlier in a win against Chicago, was held to 15 on 4-of-12 shooting.
Sunday is the finale of a four-game homestand for the Spurs. Their Western Conference-leading home record fell to 15-2 with Friday's loss.
The Grizzlies have been unable to build off that win over the Spurs two weeks ago, losing four straight since then, including a 103-83 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Pau Gasol scored 23 points and added eight rebounds while Darko Milicic had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies shot just 36 percent from the field and their 14 turnovers resulted in 18 Houston points.
"The shooting was hard to open up," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "We were turning down open shots. It wasn't good for the shooting muscles. When you have a shot, you have to take it. We have no confidence."
Three of their last four losses have been by 18 or more points.
"The sooner we can turn this around the better because, otherwise, the load just keeps getting heavier and heavier," Gasol said.
The only team Memphis has defeated more than once this season is Seattle. With a win Sunday, the Grizzlies would earn a split of the four-game season series against the Spurs.
The Spurs have won six straight at home against the Grizzlies, including a 101-88 win on Nov. 23 in which Duncan scored a game-high 28 points.