National Basketball Association
Magic-Grizzlies Preview
National Basketball Association

Magic-Grizzlies Preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:32 p.m. ET

The Memphis Grizzlies fell short of a season-high win streak, but a three-game homestand could help put that defeat quickly behind them.

The Grizzlies seek a 10th win in the last 11 games on their own floor Monday night while trying to extend their dominance over the scuffling Orlando Magic.

Memphis (25-20) fell 106-101 to Minnesota on Saturday in its attempt at a fifth consecutive victory. Mike Conley and Zach Randolph were limited to a combined 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Marc Gasol had 17 points and matched a season low with two rebounds after being questionable with a bruised left knee. Tony Allen missed his second straight game because of knee and hamstring issues.

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The banged-up Grizzlies didn't help matters by committing 23 fouls and the Timberwolves took advantage, going 33 of 36 from the free-throw line.

"They shot 23 free throws in the first half. That's incredible. They average 26 per game. That's pretty hard to guard," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "We have to play better without fouling."

The Grizzlies will try to bounce back by sending Orlando to a 10th loss in 11 games. The Magic (20-22) have gone to overtime twice during a season-worst five-game losing streak, against Toronto on Jan. 14 in London and a 120-116 loss to Charlotte on Friday.

Orlando had a 15-point lead with 7:15 to go in regulation but let the Hornets go on a 21-3 run. The Magic only forced an extra period when Victor Oladipo banked in a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Oladipo scored a season-high 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting and went 5 of 8 from beyond the arc after missing the previous two games because of a sprained right knee.

"In difficult times you have to fight your way through and you've got to come with a positive attitude every single day,'" forward Tobias Harris said. "If we just sit around and mope and pout, that's going to affect us in the next game. We have to have a clear mindset and get back to where we want to be."

The Magic have lost four of five on the road heading into the opener to a three-game trip, and they've fared even worse in recent visits to Memphis, dropping 12 of their last 13.

Orlando has lost seven straight in Memphis and eight in a row overall in the series since an 89-72 victory Nov. 15, 2010.

"This could be a big road trip for us because it could change all the momentum, and probably change the whole season," guard Evan Fournier said. "Hopefully we'll just have a great game. Even if we lose the game (Monday night), having a great game would be huge for us."

Randolph has averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in the last four matchups, but he's put up 10.8 points per game in his last six contests.

Orlando's Nikola Vucevic has a season-high streak of four double-doubles. He averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in last season's two matchups.

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