After taking care of business with an important victory over Phoenix Thursday night, the Trail Blazers need to follow suit Saturday night against one of the NBA's lesser lights -- the Memphis Grizzlies.
"We just have to be focused like we were (Thursday night)," Portland center Joel Przybilla. "That's what Nate (McMillan, the Portland coach) said after the game. "We can't have a letdown on Saturday. It's a big game for us -- just as big as (Thursday). We're still fighting for the playoffs. Every game the rest of the season is big. For now, this is the biggest one."
Portland must contain the Grizzlies' high-scoring young duo of Rudy Gay (18.6-point average this season) and rookie O.J. Mayo (18.4). Mayo scored 21 in the Blazers' 103-92 victory on March 16.
BLAZERS 129, SUNS 109: The Blazers beat the Suns at their own game, fast-breaking their way to victory.
The Suns were on the second of back-to-back games after a huge win at Utah Wednesday night, and they were no match for the energetic Blazers, who had played uninspired ball the last time out -- an overtime loss to Philadelphia Monday at the Garden.
"We rose to the occasion," coach Nate McMillan said. The Blazer players "showed the effort on both ends of the floor. Our ball movement was great, and defensively we did a good job."
The Suns "are not known for defense," Przybilla said. "We knew they'd play that zone. We kept getting it to the guys with open shots, and we defended them. They're going to try to outscore you, and we got out and ran and scored but stopped them from doing what they like to do."
