Davis was named interim coach after Marc Iavaroni was fired Thursday and was on the bench as Memphis (11-31) fell 108-88 at New York Friday.

Davis, in his second season as a Memphis assistant, went 73-144 in two brief coaching stints with Philadelphia (1996-97) and Orlando (2003-04 and 2004-05), but was never intended to be the long-term choice for the Grizzlies. The club hopes to sign current Milwaukee assistant Lionel Hollins to serve as head coach. He could be with the Grizzlies as early as Tuesday against Denver.

"I'm surprised by very little in the NBA," Davis said. "It's just part of the business."

If all goes according to plan, Hollins will make his third coaching stint with the Grizzlies franchise after going 18-46 during interim roles in 2004-05 and 1999-2000.

"We're sad he's leaving, but it's just such a great opportunity for him," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said of Hollins, who has served parts of 10 seasons as an assistant with the Grizzlies.

In the meantime, Davis hopes Memphis can avoid losing nine in a row for the second straight season.

"We've got to get some momentum throughout the rest of the season and particularly heading into next year," general manager Chris Wallace said. "We've got to have this group of young players feeling very good about themselves and their future in Memphis by the end of this season."

Despite their recent struggles, the Grizzlies have a good chance to end their skid against New Jersey (19-24), which has dropped a season-high five in a row after losing 94-91 at San Antonio on Friday.

Though the Nets won 100-89 at home over the Grizzlies on Jan. 7, they have lost five of their last six trips to Memphis, which is looking to avoid a fifth consecutive loss at the FedEx Forum.

Rudy Gay had 20 points while star rookie O.J. Mayo was held to 12 on Friday for Memphis, which blew an early 22-7 lead. The Grizzlies shot 39.0 percent in allowing 100 or more points for the sixth time in seven games.

Mayo and Gay are two bright spots for Memphis, which is near the bottom of the league averaging 92.9 points per game. Over his last six contests, however, Mayo is averaging almost six points fewer than his team-leading 19.0 scoring average.

Mayo had 26 points and Gay 23 against New Jersey earlier this month, but the Grizzlies trailed 32-18 after one quarter and couldn't come back.

Vince Carter had 25 points and 12 assists in that contest and finished with 26 in Friday's loss on the second stop of the Nets' four-game road swing.

Carter is averaging 24.6 points in eight career road games versus the Grizzlies.

Devin Harris had 27 points against the Spurs, but New Jersey failed to reach 100 points for the fifth straight contest.

The Nets lost six straight from March 2-10, including a 100-93 defeat at Memphis.