Grizzlies try to end skid vs. Hornets

Basketball Betting Lines

02/09/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies will aim to close out a four-game homestand in positive fashion Monday when they attempt to snap a seven-game skid against the New Orleans Hornets.

The Grizzlies haven't beaten New Orleans since a 108-104 triumph in Memphis on February 13, 2007.

Most recently, the Grizz improved to 2-1 on their residency Saturday by taking a hard-fought defensive affair from the Toronto Raptors.

Rookie star O.J. Mayo had 16 points -- 12 coming in the fourth quarter -- and eight rebounds in that one to lead Memphis in a 78-70 victory over Toronto, sending the Raptors to their sixth consecutive defeat.

Hakim Warrick also added 16 points and eight boards for the Grizz, who have won three of four overall and improved to 11-18 as the host on the year. Mike Conley chipped in 15 points and eight assists in the win.

The Grizzlies played without Rudy Gay (strained hip flexor) against Toronto and the high-flying forward is questionable for tonight's contest. Two of Gay's teammates, forward Darrell Arthur (personal) and guard Kyle Lowry (sprained right ankle) will also be game-time decisions.

The banged-up Hornets, meanwhile, won their second straight game on Sunday in the Big Easy when Rasual Butler recorded 23 points and eight rebounds, leading New Orleans to a 101-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sean Marks scored a career-high 18 points for the Hornets, who have won two straight despite playing without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who remained out with a groin injury. Devin Brown had 14 points and Antonio Daniels provided 12 points in the win.

Peja Stojakovic had 11 points for New Orleans, which overcame the ejection of another All-Star, forward David West, who committed a flagrant foul type two late in the first half. West could face a suspension over the infraction.

Paul will remain on the sidelines tonight for the Hornets, as will starting center Tyson Chandler, who is out indefinitely with a sprained left ankle, and sharp-shooter Morris Peterson, who has a sprained left foot.

New Orleans, which is 12-10 on the road this year, has already topped the Grizzlies twice this season, including a 91-84 victory at FedEx Forum on December 16.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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