Grizzlies host Wizards in search of another win
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies are a force to be reckoned with and will resume a four-game homestand Saturday versus the Washington Wizards.
The Grizzlies have beaten Sacramento and Oklahoma City so far on the homestand and sent the Thunder packing with a 100-92 decision Friday at FedExForum.
Memphis' starters scored 81 points and Jeff Green paced the hosts with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Marc Gasol ended with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks, while Zach Randolph added 14 points to go along with seven boards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Guys were getting open looks," said Memphis coach David Joerger. "I thought we had a lot of shots that didn't go down that were open, especially 3s."
Mike Conley and Courtney Lee scored 13 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who made 47.5 percent from the field and held OKC star Russell Westbrook to 18 points.
The victory pulled the Grizzlies even with idle Houston for the top spot in the Southwest Division and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Memphis, which has won seven of the past 11 games, is 29-9 at home and will close the stay Wednesday versus New Orleans.
The Wizards are on the road the next three games against Memphis, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, and went 3-2 on their recent homestand.
Washington closed the lid on the residency with Friday's 101-87 victory over the New York Knicks, as Marcin Gortat scored 19 points, Bradley Beal added 18 and John Wall posted just six points with a career-high 18 assists.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Otto Porter Jr. tallied 17 points and eight rebounds for the playoff-bound Wizards, who held the Knicks to only 10 points in the first quarter (30-10) and promptly allowed 36 points in the second stanza.
"It's about the team. Everything we are doing is for the playoffs," said Porter. "We just try to have everyone's back."
The Wizards, who improved to 36-9 when holding opponents under 100 points, are fifth in the East and two games behind Toronto. They sit three games in back of Chicago for the No. 3 spot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Washington is 15-21 on the road and has lost three straight and 12 of the last 14 games outside the nation's capital.
Wall is averaging 22.0 points and 11.4 assists in his last five games, Beal is posting 17.3 ppg in his previous four and Gortat is averaging 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds since the All-Star break (22 games).
Washington defeated Memphis, 107-87, at home on March 12 and was led by Gortat's 22 points. Wall chipped in 21 points. The Grizzlies were without Gasol, Randolph and Conley, so tonight's matchup could have different results.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Wizards are winless in nine straight trips to Memphis and 3-15 all-time on Beale Street.