Last Saturday, Gazette photographer Cliff Jette and I graciously accepted the Memphis Grizzlies’ invitation to attend their home game against the Denver Nuggets.

I like the NBA, more in person than on TV. I tend to ignore it on the tube until playoff-time. But in person … well, they’re only the best basketball players on earth.

Memphis has a good team, as its 20-9 record indicates. Denver has a good team, too. It takes an 18-15 record into its home game against Minnesota tonight, but it has played two-thirds of its schedule on the road.

On with a sample of Cliff’s photos:

Every NBA team has a big show for pregame introductions

Marc Gasol of Memphis, Kenneth Faried of Denver. Faried is a show unto himself. He plays with passion.

Memphis likes its basketball, both the Grizzlies and the University of Memphis squad.

The crowd for this game was 17,707. The Grizzlies have played to 91.1 percent capacity at home this season.

Google "Faried" and "dunk," and the results pour in.

Memphis Jones, the "house band of the game." warms up.

Rudy Gay earns the fans' approval. He is, shall we say, quite talented.