NBA Preview from The Sports Network
Tuesday, February 19th
(All times Eastern)
Memphis Grizzlies (33-18) at Detroit Pistons (21-33), 7:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies look to pick up where they left off
before the All-Star break when they make a stop in Auburn Hills to take on the
Detroit Pistons at The Palace.
The Grizzlies have won three straight and four of six games, including last
Tuesday's 108-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Marc Gasol tallied 24
points and 12 rebounds, while Tony Allen contributed a season-high 19 points.
"The last few games he's been scoring a few points and he's made shots,"
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said of Allen. "He's gotten to the basket, he's
made good decisions."
All-Star Zach Randolph finished with 13 points and nine boards for the
Grizzlies, who improved to 16-0 this season when scoring 100 points and are
8-1 when shooting at least .500 from the field.
Randolph had six points and five rebounds in Sunday's All-Star game.
Tayshaun Prince will play for the first time against his former team on
Tuesday. He won an NBA Championship with the Pistons, the only squad he ever
played for until this season's trade.
Memphis looks to stop a two-game road losing streak Tuesday and is 12-10 away
from FedEx Forum this season.
The Pistons will wrap up a three-game homestand Tuesday evening and are 1-1 so
far on the residency.
In a 96-85 victory versus the Washington Wizards last Wednesday, Greg Monroe
had 16 points and 18 rebounds to lead the way. Jose Calderon finished with a
season-high 24 points and Will Bynum added 20 in the win, Detroit's third in
the previous four contests.
"Jose is the type of point guard who knows that when the time is right to pass
up some open shots in order to keep the ball moving, and when the time is
right to try to knock those shots down," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said of
Calderon.
Monroe has been on a tear as of late with eight consecutive doubles-doubles,
the most since Grant Hill recorded 10 straight back in 1996. Monroe is
averaging 19.2 points and 13.6 rebounds in his last five games.
The Pistons are holding opposing teams to 90.1 ppg in 21 wins this season, as
opposed to 101.3 points in 33 setbacks.
Detroit is 15-15 at home this season and lost the first matchup with Memphis
by a 90-78 score on Nov. 30. The Grizzlies have won six in a row and seven of
the last eight meetings with the Pistons.
Memphis is unbeaten in four straight games at The Palace.
02/19 10:43:32 ET
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