MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies, never known for great success on the road, are off to their best start ever.

And most of the wins have come away from home.

The difference this season is a new confidence and a determination to play hard until the game ends, Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said.

``Once you start winning close games, you get to the point that you expect to win the games and you expect to make the plays,'' Brown said Thursday. ``Also, we have guys who are making plays.''

The Grizzlies had only eight road victories each of the past three seasons. With a 6-5 record on the road so far, Memphis is 9-8 overall, the first time in franchise history it has been over .500 in December.

The Grizzlies beat the New Jersey Nets 96-93 Wednesday for their third straight road victory.

Grizzlies president Jerry West said the players understand what Brown expects of them and ``have bought into his philosophy.''

Brown joined the Grizzlies in November 2002, returning to coaching after a 16-year break spent primarily as a television analyst.

``There's an awful lot of pride in playing this game,'' West said, ``and obviously the coaching staff has instilled that pride.''

West said he was pleased with the Grizzlies' performance so far but expects more.

``We're going to have win games at home now,'' West said. ``We're going to have to protect our home court.''

The Grizzlies, who host Washington on Friday, have lost three games at home.

West attended Thursday's practice to welcome Bonzi Wells, who was acquired in a trade with Portland on Wednesday. Wells had clashes with fans, teammates and coaches in Portland.

Brown, who is described by Memphis players as tough but fair, said he was not concerned about Wells' reputation.

``We never judge people before they come here and play for us,'' Brown said. ``We start from Day One: These are the rules. Either you abide by the rules or you sit down.''

Brown has championed that approach since joining the Grizzlies and is credited with helping improve the performance of players like point guard Jason Williams. Williams, who is now a team leader, was known for flashy but unpredictable play at Sacramento before joining Memphis in 2001.

``You allow a player to make the decision whether he wants to accept what you're dealing out,'' Brown said. ``This is a team game and he's got to accept that ... and if he doesn't, he's an underachiever no matter what his talent level is.''

Memphis began a three-game road trip Nov. 21 with a 98-97 victory over the SuperSonics for its first win in Seattle in 16 tries. But two blowout losses quickly followed, a 121-98 defeat at Los Angeles and a 109-89 loss at Sacramento.

The latest road trip was a different story.

Before the win at New Jersey, the Grizzlies beat Cleveland 122-115 in double overtime on Nov. 29, and beat Boston 96-89 on Monday.

They also have won on the road against Houston and Orlando, while also losing to Portland, Phoenix and Utah.

The Grizzlies, founded in Vancouver in 1995, had their best record on the road in 1999-2000, when they won 10.

``We've executed well in the last six minutes of road games,'' Brown said, ``whereas a year a go we might not have been able to do that.''