Grizzlies 71, Hornets 69
Marc Gasol collected 22 points and eight rebounds and cashed in a three-point play late to help visiting Memphis hold off Charlotte and remain undefeated.
Zach Randolph racked up 12 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double in three games this season as the Grizzlies survived despite shooting 36.2 percent and committing 19 turnovers. Mike Conley struggled to nine points on 3-of-14 shooting but dished out seven assists for Memphis.
Al Jefferson overcame a sluggish first half to finish with 19 points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who shot 36.1 percent and had 20 turnovers. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had a double-double before halftime but was quiet in the second half, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.
The Grizzlies held the Hornets without a field goal for more than six minutes in the first quarter and held them scoreless for a five-minute stretch in the second but only led 36-30 at halftime. A pair of Gasol jumpers to start the third quarter pushed the margin to 10, and the lead was as large as 12 in the third quarter before Charlotte surged back.
Gary Neal scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hornets close the gap and tied it at 60 with a free throw before Jefferson's dunk gave Charlotte its first lead since the opening minutes. Gasol's three-point play with 58 seconds left put the Grizzlies back on top, and Kemba Walker missed an off-balance jumper that would have tied it in the final seconds.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tayshaun Prince started in place of Memphis SG Courtney Allen, who suffered a concussion in Friday's game against Indiana. … Jefferson had his string of double-doubles in 10 straight regular-season games snapped. … Memphis SG Tony Allen was whistled for a technical foul less than three minutes into the game.