Grizzlies trying to get comfortable at home

On Friday, the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets go for their third straight win when they visit the Grizzlies at FedExForum. It is the third and final meeting of the season between the clubs. Denver won the two previous contests at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets have won six straight in this series. They have also won two in a row at the Grizzlies.

If the playoffs started, Denver and the Grizzlies would meet in the first round.

Memphis plays the third of a six-game homestand against the Nuggets. On Tuesday, Jake Tsakalidis paced a balanced Memphis attack with 19 points and a career-high-tying 16 rebounds as the Grizzlies soundly defeated the Boston Celtics, 93-76, at TD Banknorth Garden.

Chucky Atkins ended with 18 points in the win over the Celtics for Memphis, which snapped a two-game skid. Mike Miller netted 14 off the bench and Eddie Jones and Pau Gasol both scored 13 in the victory.

The Grizzlies, who are 1-1 on the homestand and will also host Utah, Indiana and the Clippers on the current stand, are a solid 20-10 at home this season.

Gasol leads the team in scoring (20.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.9 rpg). He has scored in double-digits in 27 straight games. The 7-0 All-Star forward is averaging 20.9 points and 7.6 boards in his last 10 outings.

Memphis is scheduled to play 11 of its final 18 games at home.