Grizzlies Rally Late To Drop Lakers, 97-90
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Randolph had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Marc Gasol scored nine of his 18 in the fourth quarter and the Memphis Grizzlies rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
The Lakers held an 87-84 lead with three minutes left before Memphis closed the game on a 13-3 run, including seven straight to start the rally.
Jeff Green added 16 for Memphis, which won its second straight, and Tony Allen had 15, connecting on all but one of his eight shots in the game. Mike Conley finished with 12 points.
The Lakers, who lost their fourth straight, were led by a career-high 25 points from Jordan Clarkson, who was 12-of-18 shooting. Clarkson also had six assists. Wayne Ellington and Wesley Johnson finished with 14 points each, Jordan Hill added 13 and Ed Davis scored 10, hitting all five of his shots.
Memphis held a 54-44 advantage in the paint but was outrebounded, 44-42. The biggest difference was at the free-throw line, where Memphis was 28 of 33, compared to 7 of 9 for Los Angeles.
Clarkson hit his first five shots en route to 17 first-half points as the Lakers took a 46-43 lead into halftime. Johnson added 12 for the Lakers, who connected on 12 of 22 shots in the second quarter.
Allen led Memphis, connecting on all six of his shots for 12 points.
The Grizzlies held a 10-point lead early in the second, but couldn't maintain it with the Lakers' shooting in the second. Los Angeles had a 13-3 run to erase Memphis' advantage.
The Lakers extended the margin to eight in the early stages of the third, and maintained the lead into the final minutes when there were multiple ties and two-point leads for Los Angeles.
The Lakers carried a 71-67 lead into the fourth as Hill and Davis scored the final two baskets of the frame, and Ellington had eight in the quarter for Los Angeles.
The Lakers' lead reached 10 twice early in the fourth, the last coming on a dunk by Davis with 9:06 left.
TIP-INS:
Lakers: Los Angeles lost the three previous games this season to the Grizzlies by a total of 14 points. ... Lakers reserve C Tarik Black played at the University of Memphis before his final year at Kansas. ... Clarkson's previous high in points was 22 against Utah on Feb. 25.
Grizzlies: Reserve F Vince Carter played for the first time after missing 13 games with a tendon injury in his left foot. ... Nick Calathes recorded three steals, his eighth straight game with multiple steals. ... Memphis has a six-game winning streak over the Lakers.
UP NEXT:
Lakers: host Dallas on Sunday
Grizzlies: visit Pelicans on Saturday
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