The Los Angeles Lakers continue their Grammy road trip tonight with a game in Memphis against the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant each scored over 30 points in the first game of the Lakers' seven -game trip, Saturday night in New Orleans, a 101-95 win over the Hornets. It was the first time two Lakers scored 30 points in the same game in nearly two years, since March 1, 2009.
The Lakers have had trouble with Memphis of late. They have lost two straight games to the Grizzlies this season, including a 19-point waxing at Staples Center on January 2. The Lakers are 2-3 overall in their last five games against the Grizzlies, but have had some success in Memphis. They have won five of the last seven games played in Memphis.
The Grizzlies are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference, at 27-25, a half game behind Portland for the final playoff spot in the west. Memphis had their five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 95-93 overtime loss to the Rockets. They will be without O.J. Mayo, who was suspended for 10 games for violating the NBA anti-drug policy, until February 15.
Zach Randolph won NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for January, averaging 22.4 points and 14.2 rebounds while Memphis won 11 of 17 games. Randolph had a league-high 15 double-doubles in the month, and won two Player of the Week awards as well. Over at Clips Nation, Steve Perrin at Clips Nation is none too happy about Randolph beating out Blake Griffin of the Clippers for the monthly award.
The Lakers are 16-8 on the road this season. Memphis is 16-7 at home. In their one meeting in Memphis this season, the Grizzlies won 98-96 on November 28.
For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.