Meeting Memphis

Coach Phil Jackson gave the Lakers the day off today, knowing they would rather be home watching the bowl games than worrying about the Memphis Grizzlies. Last time, the Lakers lost at Memphis when Rudy Gay blocked Ron Artest's potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer Nov. 30. The Lakers outrebounded the Grizzlies, 42-29, giving up five offensive rebounds. But they still lost, 98-96, their third defeat in what would become their first four-game losing streak since acquiring 7-footer Pau Gasol in a Feb. 1, 2008 trade with the Grizzlies. Their last four-game skid was in April 2007.