108
83
Gasol chips in with 21 points and 12 boards


Top Left: Josh Smith posterizing Wright Top Right: Eddie Jones spotting up for the triple
Bottom Left: Joe Johnson taking the fadeaway jumper over EJBottom Right: Gasol had another 20-10 game
Grizzlies Box | Hawks Box
ATLANTA, Nov. 12 (Ticker) -- It wasn't about taking the Hawks easy. Shane Battier said he was going to do what he could to not let Memphis lose two straight games. Battier scored 27 points Saturday night to give the Memphis Grizzlies their sixth win of the season out of seven games, a 108-83 victory Saturday night over a plagued Atlanta Hawks team. Memphis had struggled with starting the game off very slow against the Cavaliers and putting themselves in a deep hole. "I told the guys, `We're not going to have an instant replay of the Cleveland game. If we get off to a good start, let’s keep the lead and not fallback,” he said. "And that is what we did."
The Grizzlies, who started the season with five straight wins had received their first loss of the season against Cleveland the night before. Memphis was expected to be tired after fighting hard in a tough loss, but it wasn’t meant to be. Damon Stoudamire added a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists for the Grizzlies. ZaZa Pachulia had 18 points and eleven rebounds for the Hawks, who only shot 37 percent. Memphis outscored the Hawks 34-16 in the first quarter and had a 14-point halftime lead. “We were looking for an early lead and we established that,” Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello said. “I think the lineup change this game also kind of helped us with Gasol playing at center.”
Memphis went with a small ball lineup, as they moved Mike Miller into the starting lineup and put Lorenzen Wright on the bench. It worked out both ways as Lorenzo was the leading scorer off the bench for Memphis with 8 points and 5 rebounds and Battier was able to match up well with Harrington at the power forward position. Initially, the original lineup was going to be inserted, but last minute changes put Wright on the bench and Miller at the starting small forward spot. Memphis will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
99
114
Grizzlies Smother Bryant, Lakers


Top Left: Odom taking the jumper over Battier Top Right: Kobe was held to only 6 points in the 2nd half
Bottom Left: Bryant with the reverse layin Bottom Right: Stoudamire inside the painted area
Lakers Box | Grizzlies Box
MEMPHIS, Nov. 14 (Ticker) -- Pau Gasol led a defensive effort which kept Kobe Bryant in check in the 2nd half and sent the Los Angeles Lakers home on a sour note. Gasol collected 32 points, 7 rebounds and four blocked shots as the Memphis Grizzlies posted an 114-99 victory over the Lakers. Memphis' defensive effort in the 2nd half allowed it to beat Los Angeles for the fourth straight time. "They played us tough," Bryant said. "They did this to us last year. They're a good team, and I knew it was going to be a roller-coaster night just like it was." A 14-4 run helped the Grizzlies gain a double-digit lead in the 4th quarter. Mike Miller, who finished with 14 points, had four points and two assists during the spurt.
"Coach (Mike Fratello) really had us ready for the triangle, for the 1-on-1s and the post-ups," Miller said. "He had us in position at all times. We just really have to take our hats off to the coach because he had us ready." The Grizzlies loss the rebounding edge to the Lakers 46-38, but still were able to go on a run in the 2nd half. "We came out and played an aggressive, spirit-filled third quarter and it enabled us to open up a lead," said Memphis forward Shane Battier who ended up with a sprain ankle late in the first half of the game and never came back, but still finished with 9 points.
"It was a goal of ours tonight to really come out and rebound," said Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright, who had 16 boards off the bench. "We knew they had a good offensive rebounding team, so we wanted to everybody to come to the boards. We loss the battle, but we kept them out of their game plan with tough defense." The Lakers never held a lead throughout the game, and as close as they got was when they tied the game up at halftime.
UpComing Games:

@

Key Matchup: Caron Butler vs. Larry Hughes
This will be a very evenly matchup between these two G/F players. Butler has shown signs of being a major threat in some cases this season, Larry Hughes has been hurt for the last couple of games with back spasms. Team doctors said he would be able to play tonight, but there is no telling if he will be able to play starter minutes or not. Butler has the height advantage over Hughes, but Hughes has the athleticism over Butler.

@

Key Matchup: Damon Stoudamire vs. Steve Nash
Might Mouse may have a hard time keeping up with the fast pace Nash. Nash is averaging 18ppg and 9.3apg for the 5-1 Phoenix Suns. He has been bringnig a new pace to the Suns style of play since last season and now since the Suns are a more in-depth team, they will be even more dangerous to contend with this year. Stoudamire has been putting up very solid numbers for the Grizzlies with 17ppg and 8apg, so don't expect Damon to back down from the former MVP.