Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – The Memphis Grizzlies had enough healthy
bodies after all for Thursday’s game against the Boston Celtics.
That spelled bad news for Boston, as the Grizzlies never trailed en route to
a 117-100 win, their 21st straight at FedExForum in the regular season.
Marc Gasol led the way with 32 points, Zach Randolph donated 16 points and 16
rebounds, and Jon Leuer poured in 19 points off the bench in the victory.
Leuer was one of seven Grizzlies listed as questionable because of a stomach
virus ravaging the team, but only Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter sat out due
to the illness.
Kelly Olynyk paced Boston with 18 points, while Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green
netted 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Grizzlies, who were coming off a loss at Toronto on Wednesday, jumped out
to a 25-14 lead behind Gasol’s 11 first-quarter points.
Tayshaun Prince beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer, pushing Memphis’
lead to 55-41, and a 10-0 run in the middle stages of the third quarter
stretched the margin out to 19.
Randolph’s layup capped the surge and yielded a 74-55 advantage with just over
four minutes remaining, and it was an 82-70 game heading to the fourth.
The closest the Celtics got in the final quarter was nine.
Game Notes
The Celtics have dropped four of five overall … Memphis has won five
straight meetings … Mike Conley totaled 15 points and eight assists for the
Grizzlies, who won the rebounding battle 50-38 and outscored the Celtics in
the paint by a 66-38 margin.
