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Grizzlies 117, 76ers 95
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies tied a franchise record with their 13th consecutive home win in a 117-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night at FedExForum.
Center Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Swingman Mike Miller scored 19 points off the bench and guard Tony Allen chipped in 15.
Power forward Zach Randolph finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for his 46th double-double of the season. Six Grizzlies scored in double-figures.
Memphis (47-32) came into the night one game behind the Phoenix Suns for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies finish with road games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix next Sunday and Monday, and then play the Dallas Mavericks in Memphis next Wednesday.
Philadelphia (17-62) is now 2-5 since ending its 26-game losing streak on March 29.
Trailing by 10 at halftime, the 76ers cut the deficit to 63-57 with 7:08 left in the third quarter after a 3-pointer from forward Thaddeus Young, who had 18 points.
But Memphis outscored the 76ers 24-7 the rest of the quarter and carried an 87-64 lead into the final frame. The Grizzlies’ last basket of the third quarter came with 3.5 seconds left when the 7-1 Gasol, seeing no defender within 10 feet of him, hesitated, and then knocked down a straight-away 3-pointer.
Memphis shot 54.3 percent (44-for-81) from the floor. Philadelphia shot 44.3 percent (39-for-88). The Grizzlies won the boards, 49-36, and scored 60 points in the paint. They handed out 28 assists.
Guard Tony Wroten scored 18 points off the bench for the 76ers, and forward Elliot Williams finished with 13 points.
The Grizzlies led 57-47 at halftime and Gasol and Miller each had 13 points. Randolph and forward James Johnson each scored eight through the first two quarters.
Memphis owned a 28-15 advantage in rebounds and led 8-0 on second-chance points. The Grizzlies shot 54.8 percent while Philadelphia shot 46.7 percent in the first half.
Young led the 76ers with 10 first-half points.
NOTES: Grizzlies F Tayshaun Prince sat out his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. … Memphis C Marc Gasol played 44 minutes in the win over Miami on Wednesday, F Zach Randolph played 42 minutes and PG Mike Conley was on the floor for 41. Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger would not say he had a set number of minutes he wanted the three to play Friday against a Philadelphia 76ers team that came in with just 17 wins, but clearly he was hoping to rest them. “We’re gonna need a big shot in the arm from our bench,” Joerger said before the game. … Several 76ers have Memphis connections, including G and former Grizzlies player Tony Wroten and G Elliot Williams and swingman Adonis Thomas, both of whom played for the University of Memphis. Thomas, Williams and forwards Thaddeus Young and Arnett Moultrie all played high school ball in Memphis
