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MEMPHIS, Tenn. Derrick Thomas Camo Jersey . -- Rudy Gay scored 23 points, Marc Gasol added 20 points and 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Hornets 108-99 Saturday night. Mike Conley had 17 points and seven assists, while Marreese Speights and Tony Allen finished with 12 points apiece. Jarrett Jack led New Orleans with 23 points, while Jason Smith had 15, including 10 in the fourth quarter as the Hornets cut into the lead. Greivis Vasquez scored 14 points and handed out six assists. Marco Belinelli contributed 10 points. Memphis built a comfortable lead against the New Orleans starters. But the Hornets bench players used a much more aggressive style on both ends of the floor to threaten the Grizzlies lead. New Orleans has lost three straight and nine of its last 10. Memphis had a 17-point lead in the third period, but the Hornets reserves turned up the offence. The second-teamers were also more active on defence as Memphis began running too much isolation on their end of the floor. That led to a rally bridging the third and the fourth periods that brought New Orleans within a basket with 7:42 left to play. The Hornets trailed 95-93 with 5:07 left after Jack scored. But New Orleans could not overtake Memphis as Gay had seven points over a 2-minute span, a 3-pointer with 2:15 left had extended the Memphis lead back to double digits. The teams were close through the midway point of the second period. The Hornets put together an early rally in the quarter for a nine-point lead. Memphis answered with a 15-2 run to retake the lead, and when Gay connected on a 3-pointer with 50.8 seconds remaining in the half, it was the games first double-digit margin at 55-45. That was part of Memphis outscoring the Hornets 37-23 in the second as the Grizzlies took a 57-47 advantage into the break. Gasol had 15 points, while Gay added 12. Jack led the Hornets with 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting. The Grizzlies were 14 of 22 in the second period to build the lead. Vasquez scored on a layup as the horn sounded at the end of the third, but that only cut the Memphis advantage to 86-75 entering the final frame. But the Hornets werent finished with their scoring push with their reserves still in the game. An early 7-0 run in the fourth and the Memphis lead was 86-82. Smiths 12-footer forced a timeout from Memphis coach Lionel Hollins as the Hornets cut the lead to 93-91. NOTES: The game meant the return to Memphis of Vasquez, traded to the Hornets on Christmas Eve for G/F Quincy Pondexter. Another former Memphis G, Xavier Henry, obtained by the Hornets in a three-team trade with Memphis was inactive. . Hornets F Chris Kaman was coming off a 0-for-10 shooting night against Minnesota on Friday night. He finished with seven points, hitting 3 of 6 shots. .The Grizzlies became only the second team this season to surpass the 100-point mark against the Hornets. The Philadelphia 76ers were the others on Jan. 4. .Memphis C Hamed Haddadi from Iran said in the locker room before the game that he is still waiting on the paperwork to clear for his return to play. Phillip Gaines Chiefs Jersey . Geren replaces Chip Hale, who became Oaklands bench coach last week. In four-plus seasons with the As, Geren was 334-376, including 27-36 this year before he was fired on June 9. Justin Houston Elite Jersey . Miamis 7-1 loss to Josh Beckett and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night was overshadowed by the announcement team president Michael Hill made in the Dodger Stadium press box during the third inning. Hill said Marlins doctor Lee Kaplan had recommended Tommy John surgery to repair a significant tear in Fernandezs right elbow.GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Cleveland Indians have acquired infielder Justin Sellers from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations. The Indians also said Sunday that they had designated infielder David Cooper for assignment. The 28-year-old Sellers played 82 games for the Dodgers in the past three years, hitting .199 with three hoome runs and 17 RBIs. Eric Berry Camo Jersey. . He split time at shortstop, second base and third base. The 27-year-old Cooper finished last season in Triple-A for Cleveland. He hit .300 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 45 games for Toronto in 2012 before sustaining a serious back injury while diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. ' ' ' |
