Sixers-Grizzlies 5 things: Another dreadful distinction?

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The Sixers (0-17) finish off their six-game road trip when they travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies (9-8) at FedEx Forum on Sunday (6 p.m./CSN).

Let’s take a closer look at the matchup:

1. History in the making
Records were meant to be broken.

The Sixers would certainly tell you this is one mark they would rather not have associated with the franchise but that’s not the case.

After clawing all the way back against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, the Sixers gave up yet another fourth-quarter lead in a 116-114 loss. The defeat was the Sixers’ 27th in a row dating back to last season for the longest skid in U.S. major professional sports history.

“It’s equally as painful because they put themselves in a position where maybe you could steal a win,” head coach Brett Brown said. “This one was a little bit different because we clawed our way back. We got down 16 points in the third and found a way to go ahead. It really wasn’t a game where we were holding onto a lead.”

Now the Sixers are on the verge of another dreadful distinction. One more loss would tie them with the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the worst start to an NBA season at 0-18.

2. The blueprint
While the David Robinson and Tim Duncan tandem may be the hope, the Sixers’ young frontcourt might be better off studying the Grizzlies' big man tandem.

After all, with the NBA trending more toward small ball each season, center Marc Gasol and power forward Zach Randolph have still been able to thrive while playing together for the last five seasons. They’ve controlled the paint with their scoring, rebounding and defense while also displaying strong passing ability for a pair of bigs. That has resulted in five consecutive playoff appearances in the stacked Western Conference, including a trip to the conference finals in 2012-13.

The numbers may be down this season, but the two bigs are still getting the job done. Gasol is averaging 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this year. Randolph, who has missed the last five games with a sore right knee, has put up 14.5 points and 8.7 boards a night.

The Sixers’ talented young big men have more than held their own this season. Okafor has averaged 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds a game during his rookie season, while Noel has posted 10.1 points and 8.4 rebounds.

It will be interesting to see how the frontcourt battle unfolds when the two teams take the court at FedEx Forum.

3. Keep firing
One positive to come out of Friday’s loss is that the Sixers’ shooters found their touch from long range.

After falling behind by as many as 16, Brown shifted to a small-ball lineup of T.J. McConnell, Isaiah Canaan, Nik Stauskas, Robert Covington and Jerami Grant. That group, in addition to Hollis Thompson, resulted in the Sixers’ knocking down 16 of 35 three-pointers.

Teams are attempting 25.8 threes against the Grizzlies and Memphis is in the league’s lower third in defending three-pointers (36.4 percent, 22nd in the NBA).

4. Injuries
Randolph (knee) and Jordan Adams (knee) are questionable for Sunday’s game.

Brandan Wright (knee) and Jarell Martin (foot) are out.

Noel, who sat out Friday with a sore right knee, is expected to play vs. the Grizzlies.

Richaun Holmes (hamstring), Tony Wroten (knee), Kendall Marshall (knee), Carl Landry (wrist) and Joel Embiid (foot) are out for the Sixers.

5. This and that
• The Sixers have lost five in a row to the Grizzlies and four of their last five in Memphis.

• The Grizzlies have won six of their last eight games.

• The Sixers went 0-17 last season before beating the Minnesota Timberwolves for their first win of the season.

• Point guard Mike Conley scored a career-high 36 points in the Grizzlies’ 120-115 win over the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 13 last season.

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