Grizzlies-Lakers Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO

(AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies are known for stingy defensive play that compensates for their lack of offense.

That hasn't been the case for the past six weeks.

The Grizzlies look to build on their best offensive showing of the season and continue their dominance of the Los Angeles Lakers with a sweep of this home-and-home set Friday night.

Memphis ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense (99.5), but it's been the offense that's keyed a 12-4 run. The Grizzlies (33-23) are averaging 105.6 points during that stretch, a major improvement from their 95.9 over the first 40 games.

"It's a lot different," guard Mike Conley said. "We're taking the wide-open shot. We're not just settling. ... I think everybody's having a lot of fun. And, as you can see, when you have fun, we put up points."

Fun is something the Grizzlies have had a lot of lately against the Lakers (11-48), averaging 107.8 points during an eight-game winning streak - their longest in series history.

They set a season high in points and shot 56.5 percent - their second-best mark of the season - in Wednesday's 128-119 home victory. Memphis set a season high with 13 3-pointers, getting five from Matt Barnes, who had his most productive game of 2015-16 with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting and eight rebounds.

Conley added 24 points, eight assists and six boards, and is averaging 20.8 points on 52.0 percent from the floor over the last five games. He's scored 20 per game on 55.8 in his past seven against Los Angeles.

The Western Conference-worst Lakers are playing out the remainder of a dreadful season, having lost 21 of 24 as Kobe Bryant's retirement tour continues.

With 23 games remaining, they're on pace to break the team record for fewest wins in a season - 19 in 1957-58 when the team was located in Minneapolis.

Los Angeles has been particularly awful during a seven-game skid, allowing 120.2 points and 47.6 percent from 3-point range in the last five contests.

"The last three games especially, we just haven"t been able to guard anyone," coach Byron Scott said. "Teams are pretty much scoring at will."

Jordan Clarkson has been one of the few bright spots of late, averaging 21 points and making 19 of 32 from long range in the last five games. He had 28 points Wednesday and set a career-high with six 3-pointers.

Clarkson has scored 21.7 in his last three meetings with Memphis.

Bryant has had a tough time over the last two games, shooting 8 of 26 and totaling 28 points after finishing with 13 against the Grizzlies. He was averaging 24.5 points over the previous eight games.

D'Angelo Russell is looking to build on his 22 points and eight assists from Wednesday. The rookie guard, though, is averaging 10.7 and 3.3 at home.