Jazz, Grizzlies search for consistency

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz have been in the same situation that faces them in Sunday's 6 p.m. (Eastern) game at FedEx Forum. Quite recently in fact.

A four-game trip started badly for the Grizzlies with a 10-point clunker of a loss at Milwaukee on Nov. 12. The next day in Utah, rookie head coach David Fizdale held a grueling practice that flipped a switch.

The Grizzlies topped the Jazz 102-96 and have been on a 14-5 run since without star PG Mike Conley and pricey free agent F Chandler Parsons for long stretches.

That game started the Jazz on a four-game skid, but they have since won 10 of 12 games, and at 17-10 are a half-game behind Memphis (18-10) in the NBA Western Conference standings.

The Grizzlies had another misstep Friday, a 96-92 home loss Friday to Sacramento -- only the second team below .500 to beat Memphis this season.

The traditionally shooting-challenged Grizzlies hit only 37.7 percent from the field and 20 from the 3-point line in the loss to the Kings, coached by former Memphis boss Dave Joerger.

After a community Christmas event, Fizdale only held a film session Saturday, but would have plenty to say about an effort where the defensive-minded Grizzlies were outhustled in every category.

"We were all over the place, not competing on the ball, and many times we were just looking for the screen, like we don't want to get hit," Fizdale said.

Conley returned 2½ weeks after sustaining fractures in his back after hitting a stray knee while taking a charge Nov. 28 against Charlotte.

A 19.5-point scorer before the injury, Conley had only eight points in 29 minutes on Friday, shot 2-of-7 from the floor and missed a 3-point shot with the Kings hanging on 95-92.

Conley did pass Pau Gasol as the Grizzlies' career scoring leader at 8,968 points.

"We knew with Mike coming back there was going to be rust," Fizdale said. "The guys were out of rhythm trying to figure out and play with him. But that's zero excuse. Our effort was pathetic."

C Marc Gasol, who led Memphis with 20 points despite 6-of-18 shooting, said: "We have to come back tomorrow, get better, watch film and move on."

Utah, meanwhile, needed a fast-break 3-pointer from SG Rodney Hood with eight-10ths of a second left to escape with a 103-100 home win over lowly Dallas Friday.

"There was a lot of indecision, but Rodney could see open court and there was enough time so I just wanted him to go," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "We had been struggling in halfcourt."

C Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Hood added 15 points for Utah against the Mavs, who stayed in the game with 3-point shooting against a first-half defense Snyder called, "atrocious."

A year ago, Utah went 2-1 against Memphis, and two seasons ago won both games at FedEx Forum.

"They play extremely hard, and execute their stuff well," Fizdale said of the Jazz.

Snyder, whose team's road swing concludes Tuesday at Golden State, said: "Memphis will show you physicality, toughness and is a veteran team."

Before Friday's game Fizdale said that Parsons (knee bone bruise) and F James Ennis (calf) are "very close" to returning.

Snyder said Jazz PG George Hill, whose 20-point scoring average is second only to Gordon Heyward (22.5), is progressing but will remain sidelined because of a toe injury Sunday.

F Derrick Favors played 13 minutes in his second game back from injury Friday.