The Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks will square off for the second time in five games on Saturday night when the teams take on the defending NBA champions.
The Grizzlies (3-0) are coming off a 99-84 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night in Memphis.
The Hawks (2-1) will have their first road game of the season Saturday night at Houston.
Memphis and Atlanta split their previous meetings, 99-99, at the Toyota Center on March 3.
Atlanta defeated Memphis 101-91 in Memphis on March 17.
“We knew they were a tough team,” Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said.
“They were a team that had won a lot of games at home and on the road.
We knew they could score a lot.”
The Hawks led by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but it was Memphis’ defense that held Atlanta to 37.5 percent shooting and just 6 of 22 from 3-point range.
“Their defense is good.
They’re really good at stopping us,” Conley added.
“It’s tough to win when you don’t have any stops.
We got to do better in the defensive end.”
Memphis had a chance to take the lead with just over two minutes left, but guard Al Jefferson missed a 3-pointer.
The Pistons then cut the lead to 90-89 on a 3 from Kyle Korver with 4:22 left.
Korver scored a career-high 37 points and 10 assists for Atlanta, which shot 46.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The Spurs led 44-39 at halftime, but the Grizzlies answered with a 10-0 run to close the third and put Atlanta up 73-69 with 2:30 left.
The teams split two more meetings last season, 99 and 106, and Atlanta won 95-86 in Memphis last March.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to play on home court,” Korver said.
The win was the Hawks fourth straight road victory.
Atlanta will open a three-game road trip Friday night at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Memphis will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night at FedExForum.
The game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. local time.
