Music: {allcanada} RAPTORS BEGIN HOMESTAND AGAINST VISITING GRIZZLIES ON TSN2

Friday, March 2, 2012

{allcanada} RAPTORS BEGIN HOMESTAND AGAINST VISITING GRIZZLIES ON TSN2

The Toronto Raptors open up a four-game homestand when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to the Air Canada Centre tonight.

Coverage begins with Raptors Game Day at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt on TSN2, followed by tip-off 7pm et/4pm pt.

The Raptors have split a pair of games since returning from the break, losing in Houston on Tuesday before rebounding to top New Orleans, 95-84, a day later.

Linas Kleiza and Leandro Barbosa combined for 36 points off the bench to help Toronto defeat the Hornets in the Big Easy.

Kleiza had 21 and Barbosa chipped in 15, while DeMar DeRozan netted 21 points as well for the Raptors, who improved to 6-13 on the road, matching last year's road win total for the entire season.

"We did a better job at the end of the game," remarked Barbosa after the contest. "We finished plays and we made baskets. I think that was the difference between last night and tonight. We're getting better and we're growing."

The Dinos, who continue to play without big man and leading scorer Andrea Bargnani, are just 5-11 in Air Canada Centre and will also face Golden State, Orlando and the Rockets on their residency.

Bargnani is expected to miss his 17th straight game tonight with a strained left calf.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies returned from the All-Star break on Wednesday, downing the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, 96-85, in Memphis for their sixth win in seven contests.

All-Star Marc Gasol and Mike Conley both notched double-doubles in the win. Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Conley finished with 20 and 10 assists for Memphis, which has won five straight at FedEx Forum and is now just one-half game behind both the Mavs and Rockets for second place in the competitive Southwest Division. Rudy Gay added 18 points and seven rebounds.

"We got stops," said Gasol. "We did a good job on [the defensive] end. We were able to run and get easy buckets."

The Grizzlies are also preparing for the return of star power forward Zach Randolph, who has missed the last 31 games with a torn MCL in his right knee. The big man participated in a portion of practice earlier in the week and should be back in the lineup soon.

The Grizzlies have won five straight over the Raptors.