NBA GAME RECAP

Grizzlies’ win sets up key game Monday

The Sports Xchange

April 13, 2014 at 10:12 pm.

LOS ANGELES — With a much needed victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in hand, the Memphis Grizzlies turned their attention to the Phoenix Suns.

Point guard Mike Conley scored 24 points and handed out eight assists, and the Grizzlies used a second-half run to beat the Lakers 102-90 on Sunday at Staples Center.

Conley connected on nine of 12 shots from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers. Forward Marc Gasol scored 18 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Reserve forward Mike Miller chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.

The Grizzlies (48-32), who have won four of their last five, maintained their one-game lead over the idle Suns, who play the Grizzlies Monday night in a clash for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

“I’m excited. I think we’re all excited,” said Conley about facing Phoenix, a team the Grizzlies have defeated in two previous meetings. “Obviously, we know what’s at stake. They’re playing very well. These are the games we get up for. This is what we want to be a part of, the games that have so much at stake. They’re playing well, we’re looking forward to it and can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Said Gasol, “It’s definitely going to be a good challenge and good test for us to go to Phoenix and play a team like that that is fighting for the same reason (and) the same goal, and a team that really can get hot real quick. They put a lot of shots up and they play with a really fast tempo. We’re the complete opposite.”

Meanwhile, the Lakers (25-55) continued to trudge to the finish line. They dropped their seventh in a row and 16th out of the past 20 games, adding another loss to their franchise mark of defeats.

“People love to see us down and they’re enjoying this time right now, but it will not last for long, and I look forward to the future,” Lakers guard Jordan Farmar said.

Los Angeles led 39-30 after forward Wes Johnson dunked an alley-oop pass from Farmar with 8:45 remaining in the second quarter. However, a 13-0 surge by the Grizzlies gave them a 43-39 advantage on a dunk by reserve forward Ed Davis four minutes later.

The Grizzlies took a 53-52 lead at the half. In the second half, their defense helped them seize control.

“I think getting defensive stops and getting into our offense quicker (was the key),” Conley said. “We got the defensive rebounds, we got the outlets, we got easy some layups, some good shots in the paint. That’s where we thrive, in the paint.”

After Lakers forward Jordan Hill tied the score at 61 with a putback at 7:29 left in the third, Memphis went on a 26-8 run for an 87-69 lead to end the quarter. The Grizzlies outscored Los Angeles 34-17 in the third with Conley and guard Courtney Lee combining for half of the output.

Memphis dictated points in the paint in the second half. The Grizzlies outscored the Lakers 26-12 on the inside in the second half after being tied at 22 points apiece at intermission. They also outrebounded Los Angeles 52-32, including a 16-5 edge on the offensive end.

“We just tried to take advantage of what they were giving up, which was a lot of stuff in the pick-and-roll,” Conley said.

Guard Jodie Meeks led the Lakers’ scoring with 20 points. Johnson added 15 points and 15 rebounds, while guard Nick Young came off the bench to score 14 points. Hill finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Memphis shot 47.7 percent (42-for-88), including 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from behind the 3-point arc, compared to 43.3 percent (35-for-80) for the Lakers, who converted 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) on treys.

NOTES: Former Kansas C and projected first-round pick Joel Embiid sat courtside. “Who?” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said when asked about Embiid. “I wouldn’t know him if he walked right by me.”… The Lakers officially announced that C Pau Gasol is done for the season with vertigo. … Los Angeles was averaging 22 fastbreak points per game in its previous eight contests compared to 14 points for the rest of the season. They outscored Memphis 31-9. … Memphis is 31-13 since F Marc Gasol returned from a knee injury on Jan. 14. … The Lakers close the season with road games against the Utah Jazz on Monday and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. … After the Phoenix game, the Grizzlies wrap up the regular season at home Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

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