LAst Night's Action: Local Team Roughed Up

Grizzlies 128, Lakers 118 - This young Lakers squad has been playing to the level of their opponents. After a clutch victory over Dallas, the NBA's top squad, they were mauled by Memphis, the NBA's laughingstock. Los Angeles outscored the home team in all quarters but the third, when the Grizzlies exploded for 46 points compared to just 22 for the Lakers. Down by as many as 24, Phil Jackson threw in the towel early and benched three starters for the fourth quarter (Kobe, Cook, Smush). The grizzly loss snapped a four game winning streak for LA, who allowed seven players to score in double digits.

Predators 5, Ducks 4, OT - Nashville is hot on the heals of Anaheim for first place in the Western Conference, and pulled a little closer with a win over the struggling Ducks. Anaheim has lost 5 of 6, while Nashville has won 11 of 14 and three in a row. The Ducks came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first period to force overtime, but they are still missing three key players to injury and were only able to come away with one point in the standings.

Elsewhere - USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett will announce his decision on turning pro today. He'll probably join the No Fun League as a mid first-round pick ... Pete Carroll is being courted by the Miami Dolphins. He's probably just using this to squeeze even more bucks out of USC.

AP photo by Mark Humphrey.