Memphis @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2019 ) Denver 131, Memphis 114

The Memphis Grizzlies were two different teams defensively over their last two games and are hoping the team that showed up on Thursday is the one that moves forward with the club. The Grizzlies will try to put together two solid defensive performances in a row when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Memphis allowed the San Antonio Spurs to shoot an NBA season-high 67.4 percent from the floor in a 145-115 home loss on Monday but held the Oklahoma City Thunder to 41.3 percent in a 110-97 road win on Thursday. "I am proud of our guys, how we competed defensively," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. "Kept them off the free-throw line. Outrebounded them by double digits, 16 or so. That collective effort right there, to be disciplined, to be focused for 48 minutes, to give ourselves a chance to hold a team under 100, it's been awhile. I'm proud of them." The Nuggets cruised into their Christmas Day showcase with a seven-game winning streak and plenty of confidence before falling 112-100 at home to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans. "Every 50-50 ball was theirs; every loose ball was theirs," Denver star Nikola Jokic told reporters. "I cannot make one point. We didn't box out."

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-20): Memphis got a huge boost on Thursday from the bench, which totaled 46 points on 65.5 percent shooting and handed out 17 of the team's 26 assists. Rookie forward Brandon Clarke scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting while point guard Tyus Jones added 15 on 6-of-7 and Kyle Anderson handed out seven assists in 12 minutes. "Our bench brings a lot to the team," starting forward Jaren Jackson Jr. told reporters. "They are a huge asset because they can do so many things from top to bottom, like Kyle's vision, Tyus' vision, and my boy (Brandon Clarke) and his athleticism. So, down the line everybody brings something."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (21-9): Denver is focused on consistency on the defensive end after giving up 14 offensive rebounds and allowing the Pelicans to knock down 18 3-pointers. "It's tough to pinpoint (the defensive issues)," Nuggets swingman Will Barton III told the team's website. "We have to fix it. I think we're having lapses where we're all not sprinting back, getting back in transition. You know, sometimes when shots are falling (on offense) you take your foot off the gas on the other end. We've got to get back to playing a complete game on both sides of the ball." Denver could also use more from its backcourt offensively after starters Barton, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray combined to go 12-of-32 from the floor on Wednesday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies C Jonas Valanciunas is shooting 69.4 percent from the floor over the last five games.

2. Jokic is averaging 22 points over the last eight games and recorded three triple-doubles in that span.

3. Denver eased past Memphis 131-114 on the road on Nov. 17 and took the last three in the series.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 115, Grizzlies 101