Memphis @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2017 ) Charlotte 104, Memphis 99

Dwight Howard looks to follow up one of the most impressive performances in franchise history when the Charlotte Hornets host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. Howard scored 32 points and set a franchise record with a career-best 30 rebounds in Wednesday's 111-105 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets.

Howard's performance marked just the second time in the last 36 years that a player had both 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game with Minnesota's Kevin Love the last to turn the trick with 31 points and 31 rebounds against the New York Knicks on Nov. 12, 2010. Howard was well aware history was within range and he collected the 30th board with 1.5 seconds left when Brooklyn's DeMarre Carroll missed a layup. "It was amazing for us to get the win," Howard told reporters after the contest. "I just wanted to be the catalyst to get the team going. It seemed like we were dead. I just tried to dominate the paint." Memphis will be looking to break a 16-game road losing streak after falling 119-105 at the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis) FS Southeast Carolinas (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (19-52): Leading scorer Tyreke Evans (19.5) will be back in the lineup after being rested Wednesday and center Marc Gasol will get the night off against the Hornets, which could be problematic after Howard's splurge against Brooklyn. Memphis has lost 21 of its last 22 games and coach J.B. Bickerstaff was distressed with the effort against the 76ers as his team trailed by 30 points after three quarters. "We gave in a bit, probably the first time in a long time I can remember that happening," Bickerstaff told reporters afterward. "Frustration took over. (The 76ers) are playing with a high purpose right now. They put their thumb down when they had to."

ABOUT THE HORNETS (31-41): Charlotte needed all of Howard's exploits as it had to recover from a 23-point, second-half deficit to rally past the Nets for just its third win in the past 11 games. The Hornets outscored Brooklyn 68-43 in the second half, including 36 points in the final stanza when All-Star guard Kemba Walker scored 10 of his 24 points. "I've never been part of something like that," Walker told reporters in reference to Howard's feat. "To see those kind of numbers and be a part of it, it was crazy."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Howard was limited to two points on 1-of-9 shooting when the Hornets posted a 104-99 win over the Grizzlies on Oct. 30.

2. Charlotte SG Nicolas Batum (Achilles) will likely miss his third straight game.

3. Memphis is 3-25 against Eastern Conference foes and winless in 14 road outings.

PREDICTION: Hornets 118, Grizzlies 103