Bodog Beat

While many people out there are worried about losing their job, head coach Lionel Hollins has to be wondering what he has gotten himself into with his new job. (AP Images)

In Hollins' first game at the helm tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies look to avoid dropping 10 in a row for the first time in more than seven years, while also trying to avert a sixth straight defeat to the Denver Nuggets.

Hollins has a tall task in front of him, and facing Denver to start won't make it easy.

The 6-point favored Nuggets lead the Northwest Division and have won five straight versus the Grizzlies since a road loss in 2007. Denver is averaging 110.8 points during that run.

The Grizzlies, in contrast, have failed to reach 100 points during their nine-game slide, and have scored 90 just once. Memphis has lost by an average of 12.5 points during that stretch, and only once has kept its final deficit under double digits.