Memphis @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2019 ) Charlotte 118, Memphis 107

The Charlotte Hornets are a different team in their own arena and are hoping to bounce back at home after getting crushed 126-94 at the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The Hornets will try to regroup and post their fourth consecutive home victory when they begin a three-game homestand by hosting the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Charlotte is 17-8 in front of its own fans but fell to 7-18 on the road with Wednesday's loss and sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference 50 games into the season. "We navigated a tough schedule on the road," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters after finishing up a month of January that saw the team play 10 of its 14 games on the road. "I thought we got better overall. This isn't how we wanted it to end, but we get to go home. We have a big game at home on Friday night." One of Charlotte's seven road wins was a 118-107 triumph at Memphis on Jan. 23, part of a stretch of 16 losses in 18 games for the Grizzlies that continued with a 99-97 overtime setback at Minnesota on Wednesday. "It's tough," Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "We're putting ourselves in position, giving us a chance. Tonight, they made one more play than we did. We just have to make that play when it's called upon."

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

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (20-32): Memphis is reportedly shopping veteran stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol and is giving some younger players a chance to shine. Power forward Ivan Rabb, 21, made the most of an opportunity on Wednesday and recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. "I thought the game was a little too lackadaisical in the first quarter, and I saw that's something I could impact if I did get my number called and I just tried to get in and bring that energy and I feel like just pick guys up," Rabb told reporters. "The bench was behind us and we just kept rolling."

ABOUT THE HORNETS (24-26): Charlotte allowed Boston to shoot 55.6 percent from the floor on Wednesday and was outrebounded 58-38 while letting the game get away in the second half. "We came out kind of sluggish in the third quarter and they just jumped on us," Hornets All-Star guard Kemba Walker told reporters. "... We just have to continue to get better. Tonight, we were a step slow, a step behind." Walker finished with 21 points in the loss and scored 20 or more points in seven of the last nine games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hornets PG Tony Parker (ankle) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.

2. Grizzlies SF Justin Holiday went 0-of-10 from the floor on Wednesday.

3. Memphis dropped a 140-79 decision at Charlotte last season, marking the worst loss in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Hornets 108, Grizzlies 97