The struggling Memphis Grizzlies resume a grueling five-
game road trip in Los Angeles Friday when they visit the Lakers at Staples
Center.
The Grizzlies fell to 0-3 on the swing Wednesday in Oakland when Anthony
Morrow and Monta Ellis totaled 24 points apiece, and the Golden State Warriors
earned their first win of the season in a 113-105 final against Memphis.
Rudy Gay posted 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds for
the Grizzlies, who lost their third in a row and are now 1-4 this season.
Embattled guard Allen Iverson came off the bench for the second time in as
many games, logging 27 1/2 minutes and scoring 18 points to go with seven
assists.
Zach Randolph had 16 points and 10 boards and Marc Gasol posted 12 and 14 for
Memphis. O.J. Mayo contributed 14 points in a losing effort.
"We need practice time first of all. That's first and foremost, to get back to
our principles," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins. "We haven't had a
lot of practices since we left home because of the way the season broke for
us."
The Grizz will finish their trip at Staples Center tomorrow against the
Clippers.
The Lakers, meanwhile, won their second straight overtime game Wednesday in
Houston. Kobe Bryant carried the Lakers on his back in that one with
41 points and six rebounds, but it was Andrew Bynum's foul shots late in
the extra frame that gave Los Angeles a 103-102 victory over the Rockets.
Bynum, who hit 3-of-4 at the line inside 44.2 seconds left in OT, had 17
points and 17 rebounds despite spraining his elbow for the Lakers, who have
won three in a row. Bynum is questionable for Friday's game.
Ron Artest poured in 15 points and grabbed six rebounds against his former
team. Lamar Odom added 14 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles, which
beat Houston in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals last year.
"I think we were semi satisfied with the mental toughness we showed given the
circumstances surrounding the game and the overtime. Physically, we didn't
push it that much, we had a couple of break downs, but it was a battle,"
Artest said.
The Lakers continue to play without forward Pau Gasol, the brother of Memphis'
Marc. The All-Star has yet to take the floor this season with a right
hamstring injury but is getting closer to playing. LA coach Phil Jackson
expects the 7-footer to practice this weekend.
The Grizzlies have lost four straight to the Lakers but have won five of
their last nine vs. the team at Staples Center. Memphis has dropped 22 of the
27 matchups as the visitor in this series.
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