Their starting and back-up centers (Lorenzen Wright and Bryant Reeves) are on injured reserve.  Starting shooting guard Michael Dickerson is also on injured reserve.  In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Grizzlies could be expected to roll over and die for back-to-back games at New York and at home to the Lakers.

But with stick-like youngsters Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift playing power forward and center, and rookie Shane Battier playing 47 minutes, the Grizz edged the Knicks.  No big deal ... everyone's beating the Knicks right now.

But Friday night they beat the Lakers 114 - 108.  With no serious center (Ike Austin played 27 minutes against Shaq, supplemented by Tony Massenberg playing the other 11 minutes), the Grizz were outrebounded 48 to 32.  But 11 fewer turnovers and 9 more steals made up for that.

The last time the Grizz beat the Lakers, Lakers' coach Del Harris was fired the next day.