Memphis Grizzlies Team Report - March 24

(Basketball News) - The Memphis Grizzlies visit the streaking New Jersey Nets on Thursday at Continental Airlines Arena.Memphis defeated New Jersey, 89-84, on December 17th at FedExForum and have won three straight in the series. The Grizzlies are 2-6 all-time at the Meadowlands.

Memphis hopes to bounce back after having a three-game winning streak snapped in Sunday’s 97-91 loss to the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum. Shane Battier had 20 points and Lorenzen Wright chipped in 19 with eight rebounds for Memphis, which lost for just the third time in its last 11 contests.

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Grizzlies activated leading scorer Pau Gasol from the injured list. Gasol, who totaled four points in 12 minutes, had missed 26 games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

The Grizzlies are currently seventh in the Western Conference standings — two games up on the eighth-place Denver Nuggets and 1 1/2 games behind sixth-place Houston.

Memphis will host the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday. It will be the final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Grizzlies are a perfect 3-0 against the Hornets this season.

Battier has scored in double-digits in 10 of his last 13 games. He is averaging 14.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in his last 10 contests. The Duke product has registered three double-doubles this season.

Gasol has played in 40 games this season for Memphis. He leads the team in scoring (18.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg). The 7-0 forward has scored in double-digits in 37 of 40 games and has registered 13 double-doubles.