Conley helps Grizzlies hand Nets 13th straight loss
NEW YORK -- Mike Conley scored 32 points and the Memphis Grizzlies rebounded from a disappointing showing against the Golden State Warriors with a 112-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Monday night.
Conley recorded his fifth 30-point game of the season, matching the total he accumulated in his first nine seasons. After shooting 6 of 16 from the field in Friday's 122-107 loss to Golden State, the point guard made 10 of 16 shots and also handed out six assists.
Marc Gasol nearly recorded his third career triple-double as he finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Grizzlies, who led for the final 39 1/2 minutes.
Brendan Wright added 17 points and Vince Carter chipped in 14 to move within two of tying Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for 23rd place on the all-time scoring list.
The Nets began the game by making eight of their first 12 shots but wound up with their 13rd straight loss and franchise-record 15th consecutive home setback.
Brook Lopez scored 17 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added a season-best 17 as Brooklyn lost despite shooting 46 percent and hitting 12 3-pointers.
The Nets trailed by 15 midway through the third but hung around and were within 79-72 entering the fourth when Sean Kilpatrick hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired.
Brooklyn was within 87-79 following a put-back by Trevor Booker with 9:07 remaining. Nearly two minutes later, the Grizzlies upped the lead to 95-79 on a dunk by Wright sandwiched around two Troy Daniels' 3-pointers.
Memphis continued to struggle to sustain big leads and allowed a 13-4 spurt to bring Brooklyn within 99-92 following a dunk by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with 3:55 remaining.
The Grizzlies never let the Nets get within eight the rest of the way and a layup and 3-pointer by Conley in a span of 20 seconds finished it off.
NOTES: Brazilian legend and Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt was honored before the game. He was presented with a Nets jersey with the No. 14 by F Luis Scola and coach Kenny Atkinson. Schmidt was a sixth-round pick of the Nets in 1984 but declined to join the NBA to stay with Brazil's national team. ... Monday might have been 40-year-old G/F Vince Carter's last appearance against the Nets as a visiting player. "It's a testament to how he takes care of his body," Atkinson said. "It's a testament to how smart he is, a testament to how skilled he is." ... Carter played 374 games for the Nets from Dec. 2004 to April 2008. ... Memphis rested G Tony Allen and it was the sixth game he missed, but first due to rest. ... Brooklyn F Quincy Acy (sprained left ankle) missed his fourth straight game.