Sonics vs. Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the few Western Conference teams who have a won-loss record as crappy as the Sonics’. So one would think that when these two lowly squads locked horns, it’d make for a hard-fought scrum, right? Wrong: The Grizzlies have won all three of their matchups with the Sonics this year, by an average of 16 points. A lot of that had to do with seven-foot power forward Pau Gasol, who had 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting in Memphis’ 24-point blowout of the Sonics on January 18. Well, on February 1, the Grizzlies shipped Gasol to the L.A. Lakers in a mystifying trade that should make Gasol’s new team the odds-on favorite to win the West (Laker legend/current Memphis GM Jerry West should be investigated by the league office for paying unfair homage to his former employer) and Memphis the odds-on favorite to out-suck the Sonics for the league’s worst record. No Gasol means this game should finally be the dogfight that the teams’ respective records have promised. Miss it at your own peril. KeyArena, 400 First Ave. N., 684-7202, www.seattlecenter.com. $10-$160 (for normal people). 7 p.m. MIKE SEELY
Tue., Feb. 19, 7 p.m., 2008