Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93
Zach Randolph had game highs of 23 points and nine rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies took control in the third quarter en route to their first win of the season, a 113-93 triumph over the visiting Houston Rockets on Friday.
Marc Gasol had 20 points and eight rebounds and matched a career high with five blocks, while rookie point guard Jeremy Pargo contributed 14 points in his first NBA start as the Grizzlies (1-2) won for the second time in three meetings with the Rockets after losing the previous seven.
Kevin Martin scored 19 of his 21 points in the first half and Kyle Lowry had 15 points and eight assists for Houston (1-2), which defeated San Antonio 105-85 on Thursday and hosts Atlanta on Saturday.
Chase Budinger’s basket got Houston to within 59-56 before Memphis went on a 16-2 run, capped by Randolph’s circus bucket from directly beneath the hoop to make it 75-58 with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The lead grew to 88-67 after three periods and Houston got only as close as 14 in the fourth.
Lowry and Martin scored 11 points apiece in the first quarter, but Memphis shot 68.4 percent from the floor and led 30-28 after 12 minutes. Randolph had 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
The Grizzlies extended their lead to 57-51 at halftime as O.J. Mayo and Gasol scored seven points apiece in the second quarter.
Pargo started in place of Mike Conley, who is day-to-day with an ankle injury.