[thaKEAF]

AT

[8-17] [18-7]

Friday, December 21, 7:00 pm CST
Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
FSN South

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x STARTINGLINEUPS






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x GAMENOTES

F Rudy Gay is averaging more than 23 points per game on 53 percent shooting in nine games this month. ... Seven of the Grizzlies' eight wins have come in games when they outshot their opponent. ... Memphis turned the ball over five more times than the Spurs, winning for only the third time in 17 games with more turnovers. ... The NBDL's leading scorer, Jeremy Richardson, joined the Grizzlies before the game and is expected to suit up for their game in Detroit on Friday.

With the win, the Pistons improved to a league-best 9-2 on the road. The Pistons have held the Celtics to fewer than 90 points in four of their last five meetings. Wednesday's win in Boston was Detroit's 14th in their last 15 meetings with the Celtics. With the win Wednesday, coach Flip Saunders now trails Ray Scott by 12 for second-place on the team's all-time list with 135. Chuck Daly is the club's all-time leader with 467.

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x GAMEPREVIEW

After beating the best team in the Western Conference their last time out, the Memphis Grizzlies will try for a repeat against one of the top clubs in the East on Friday when they visit the Detroit Pistons.

The Grizzlies (8-17) defeated San Antonio 88-85 on Wednesday thanks to a game-winning 3-pointer by Rudy Gay as time expired. It was the second win in three games for Memphis following a season-high six-game losing streak.

The Central Division-leading Pistons (18-7), meanwhile, also won in dramatic fashion Wednesday. Chauncey Billups hit two free throws with a tenth of a second left as Detroit handed Boston its first home loss of the season, 87-85.

Billups turned the ball over, giving the Celtics a chance to grab the lead, but Paul Pierce missed a shot and Rasheed Wallace grabbed the rebound before calling a time out with 1.7 seconds remaining. Billups was then fouled by Tony Allen on a pump fake.

"It was definitely a playoff type game," Billups said. "We looked forward to this game. ... This is a gauge game ... just to see kinda where you are at."

The Pistons have won three straight and 10 of their last 12, holding their last four opponents under 90 points.

Billups tied a season-high with 28 points Wednesday, scoring 12 during the fourth quarter.

"Chauncey's one of the best clutch players in the league," Boston's Kevin Garnett said.

Billups, who leads the Pistons with 18.3 points per game, has averaged 22.9 in the last seven. During that stretch, he is 62-of-68 from the free-throw line.

Detroit has won five straight over the Grizzlies and 18 of the 23 all-time meetings. Billups has averaged 23.6 points during that five-game winning streak, including two 30-point performances.

On Wednesday, the Grizzlies outscored San Antonio 31-19 in the opening quarter and took a 49-35 lead into halftime. They struggled in the fourth quarter, however, scoring just 12 points.

"We were on fumes in the fourth. Clearly, the minutes we played our guys started to show," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "I think that had a lot to do with the turnovers in the fourth, and the tightening of the nerves."

Manu Ginobili tied the game at 85 with 2.4 seconds left. After a Memphis timeout, Juan Carlos Navarro threw the inbounds pass to Gay, who dribbled toward the top of the key and got the shot off as time expired.

"I had Tim Duncan on me, and he really didn't get to me fast enough. I put it up, and it went in," said Gay, who finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. "You've always got questions when you take a shot like that, but it felt good, and that's all you can say."

Gay, leading the Grizzlies with 19.7 points per game, has averaged 29.0 over the last three.

[thaKEAF]

This should be a tough one. Detroit is not quite the team you want to face when your team and fanbase are on a emotional high. Not to mention they just beat the red hot Boston Celtics. I'll actually be able to watch this one so hopefully we can play as a team and break down the Pistons defense.

[thaKEAF]

Game starts soon, they're interviewing coach right now.

[Ruff Draft]

Good luck gentleman. No Gasol in the starting 5?

[thaKEAF]

Same to you guys even though we need it more.

Nope he's been injured for the past couple of games.

[Ruff Draft]

Oh... Go Rudy!

[Ruff Draft]

I'll be looking for some Maxiell patented thunder dunks tonight. This game could speed up real quick.

[thaKEAF]

With Darko in the middle you guys should get quite a few of those. Let's go team! We need to pick up consecutive victories.

[thaKEAF]

Hmm, well Gasol is back tonight for us.

[thaKEAF]

Rudy with three and we're now down only three early.

Then Billups comes down and drops one one us.

[croco]

I figured it would be better to watch the Celtics/Bulls game, at least the first half because the Grizzlies are probably getting hammered.

[thaKEAF]

Actually we're only down by four.

Pau with 10 rebounds so far in the third quarter.