The Memphis Grizzlies return to FedExForum on Wednesday to host the Denver Nuggets, coming off a historic road win and facing a Denver team that had a rough travel stretch, Field Level Media reported.
Memphis beat Toronto 118-102 on Monday to improve to 5-0 on the road, the first time in franchise history the Grizzlies have opened a season with five straight road wins. The victory also snapped a three-game losing streak, all at home. Memphis is 7-3.
Defense has been the key. The Grizzlies held the Raptors to 21 points in the fourth quarter. "Guys really locked in defensively," coach Tuomas Iisalo said. "You could see the defensive pressure from the first moment on. And we came up with some very timely stops in the fourth quarter."
Iisalo said cutting turnovers would help even more. Memphis has the second-youngest roster in the NBA. "Hopefully we can reduce the amount of mistakes," he said. "But those are normal when you have a young team and a team that has been together for a very short amount of time."
Rookie Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick in June's draft, had 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Toronto. Jerami Grant scored 17 off the bench and praised the rookie. "He came in with high expectations and he's reaching those expectations already," Grant said. "He's one of the best rookies in the league and he's showing it night in and night out."
Denver lost 110-100 at Houston on Monday despite 38 points from Jamal Murray and 25 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists from Nikola Jokic. The Rockets had 15 offensive rebounds and won second-chance points 24-11. "It killed us," Nuggets coach David Adelman said. The Nuggets had played Saturday in Mexico City and returned to the U.S. only hours before tipoff because of travel problems. Denver had won four of five before that loss.
Tipoff Wednesday is set for 7 p.m. CT.
Sources: Field Level Media; Yahoo Sports