Memphis @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 20, 2018 ) Memphis 104, New Orleans 111

The New Orleans Pelicans put themselves in a precarious position by losing their last four games and are on the verge of falling out of the top eight in the Western Conference. The Pelicans will try to take advantage of a lighter spot in the schedule and snap the slide when they host the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

New Orleans goes into play on Tuesday one game ahead of the ninth-place Denver Nuggets and a half-game behind the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves after falling to four straight playoff contenders, capped by a 109-104 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. "I think we have to play a little more loose," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We're playing a little bit tight, and that's the reason I think we turned it over a little bit. We just have to get back to playing and enjoying the game and understanding that we have to embrace the situation. We have to embrace it and we have to go out and play (the way) we are capable of playing." New Orleans will play three straight on the road after finishing up with Memphis and still has games left against Golden State and San Antonio. The Grizzlies dropped the first two games of their road trip at playoff contenders Utah and Portland and is taking a look at younger players while playing out the string.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (21-56): Rookie small forward Dillon Brooks took his opportunity to step up in Sunday's loss at Portland and collected 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals while knocking down four 3-pointers. Brooks was back in Oregon, where he played in college, and received a nice ovation from the opposing fans. "I always get a standing ovation, which is nice," Brooks told reporters. "I gave all that I had for the University of Oregon, we made history and I feel like that’s why me, (Golden State Warriors forward) Jordan (Bell) or anybody on that team they show respect. And it’s a great state, fans and people. They cheer for their Trail Blazers and they cheer for their Oregon Ducks regardless, so it feels great."

ABOUT THE PELICANS (43-34): New Orleans committed 21 turnovers in Sunday's loss but insists the pressure of the race is not getting to the team. "I think we are trying to make the right play, but I don’t think we are thinking the game all the way through," All-Star forward Anthony Davis told reporters. "That's for everybody, including myself. We've got to make sure we just go out there and just play. I don't want to say we are playing tight, but we are doing stuff that we normally don’t do. We have got to get back to how we were playing." Davis collected 25 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday but is 14-of-36 from the floor over the last two contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SG MarShon Brooks (ankle) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.

2. Pelicans PF Nikola Mirotic is 4-of-17 from 3-point range over his last four games.

3. Memphis took the first two meetings this season, but New Orleans won the latest matchup 111-104 at home on Jan. 20.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 109, Grizzlies 99