Jazz 94, Grizzlies 85
Al Jefferson recorded 20 points and nine rebounds, and Paul Millsap added 14 and eight as the Utah Jazz picked up their third straight win with a 94-85 triumph over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Josh Howard chipped in 13 points off the bench for the Jazz, who used an expanded rotation and wore down the shorthanded Grizzlies. Utah had 11 players record at least one point and over nine minutes of playing time in the contest.
With Memphis All-Star Zach Randolph out due to a knee injury, the Jazz used their size advantage on the inside to open things up on the perimeter. Millsap was the beneficiary early, bruising his way past Randolph’s series of replacements and pacing Utah with 10 points in the first half.
Jefferson took over in the second half, with 12 of his points coming after the break.
Marc Gasol was the only true post player in the lineup for the Grizzlies and he tried to take advantage of some foul trouble on Jefferson in the fourth quarter. Gasol was the only player to score for Memphis in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, putting up six points as the Jazz pulled away.
Gasol finished with 21 points, 11 boards and six blocks for the Grizzlies.