Spurs, Grizzlies kick off home-and-home in San Antonio

(Basketball News) - The San Antonio Spurs try to get back on the winning track tonight when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to the AT&T Center in the opener of a home-and-home set.

On Thursday, the Spurs suffered a rare loss, as they were upended at home by Detroit, 83-68, as the Pistons swept the two-game season series between the teams who met in last year’s NBA Finals.

Tim Duncan scored 17 points and grabbed 13 boards for San Antonio, which lost for just the second time in its past eight contests. Tony Parker also chipped in 17 points and Manu Ginobili added 16 in the loss.

San Antonio also had a 12-game homecourt winning streak snapped, as the Spurs lost for the first time at home since a November 25 setback against the Chicago Bulls.

The Spurs, who will head to Memphis on Monday, will be closing a three-game homestand tonight and are 17-2 in their own building this season,

Memphis, meanwhile, comes in on a winning note after Mike Miller scored 18 points, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Grizzlies defeated the New Jersey Nets, 81-69, on Friday at FedEx Forum.

Bobby Jackson had 17 points and eight rebounds and Eddie Jones netted 12 for the Grizzlies, who have won seven of their last eight and nine of their last 11 games.

Memphis, which plays five of its next six on the road, is 10-6 away from home this season.

San Antonio split its four-game season series with the Grizz last season, but has won 24 of 31 and 25 of the last 33 meetings. Memphis, though, has won three of its last five in San Antonio, but is just 3-12 in its last 15 visits.