"Whenever USA Basketball practiced to prepare for its World Championship run during the summer, Rudy Gay mostly played opposite Kevin Durant in what turned out to be spirited competition.

However, Gay stops short of calling Durant a rival. The Grizzlies forward doesn't believe he's playing in his Oklahoma City Thunder counterpart's shadow, either.

Griz coach Lionel Hollins also rejects the notion that it's a fair comparison just because Gay and Durant play small forward, are cornerstones of young teams and received maximum contracts during the offseason.

"You can't compare our team to Oklahoma City, either," Hollins said. "Two different teams. Constructed differently. They're an athletic, long, perimeter team. We're a power team that throws the ball inside."

The difference Tuesday night, albeit a preseason affair, was that the Griz made the Thunder look like its NBA Development League affiliate Tulsa 66ers in the BOK Center. Memphis shot 73.5 percent in the first half and cruised to a 116-96 victory after leading by as many as 39 points."