Wizards 100, Grizzlies 91
WASHINGTON -- Guard Garrett Temple continued his surprising scoring surge with 20 points, guard John Wall had 14 points and 14 assists as the Washington Wizards won their third straight game with a 100-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night.
Center Marcin Gortat had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards (13-14), who swept their three-game homestand. Washington returned home after a 1-3 Western Conference road trip, which included a 112-95 loss at Memphis on Dec. 14.
Washington led by at least seven points for most of the final three quarters and countered every Memphis surge, often with a score from Temple, who capped a 16-2 run in the third quarter with a step-back 3-pointer for a 74-55 lead.
Guard Mike Conley had 21 points and forward Jeff Green scored 19 points for the Grizzlies (15-15). Memphis had won two straight games, including 104-90 at Philadelphia Tuesday. The Grizzlies owned a winning record since falling to 7-7 on Nov. 21.
Conley's layup cut the lead to 90-83 with 6:13 left, but the Grizzlies would not get closer.
Temple, recently thrust into the starting lineup with guard Bradley Beal and others injured, then sank one of his three 3-pointers, pushing the lead back to 10 at 93-83.
Not known for his offense, Temple nearly set a career-high scoring for third straight game. After scoring 59 points in November, he tallied 64 during the three wins, including a career-high 23 in Monday's 113-99 victory over Sacramento.
Memphis labored from beyond the 3-point arc, shooting 3 of 17 while Washington sank 11 of 25.
Wall recorded double-doubles during each of the three wins, averaging 17.7 points and 15 assists, and seven of his last eight games. The two-time All-Star finished with more assists than the Grizzlies' 12.
Washington only had 10 players available. Starting small forward Otto Porter (thigh) missed his third straight. Beal, Washington's leading scorer, last played Dec. 9 due to a leg injury.
The Wizards might be shorthanded, but the schedule offered rest for those playing. Sacramento and Memphis arrived in Washington playing for the second time in as many nights.
Forward Zach Randolph scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who trailed 59-48 at halftime.
Leading 25-18 after the first quarter, the Wizards scored the first 11 points of the second quarter with Wall on the bench. During that stretch, Memphis guard Mario Chalmers was ejected after receiving two technicals following a personal-foul call.
NOTES: Washington remains hopeful that F Nene (left calf strain), who last played Nov. 27, could return within the week. F Drew Gooden (right calf strain) and G Alan Anderson (ankle) round out the Wizards' injury list. ... All five starters scored in double figures in the Grizzlies' win over Washington on Dec. 14, including C Marc Gasol with 24 points. ... Wizards F Jared Dudley entered Wednesday leading the NBA with a 48.7 3-point field-goal percentage. ... Memphis closes out its three-game road trip Saturday at Charlotte. The Hornets won the first meeting 123-99 in Memphis on Dec. 11. ... Washington faces the Nets on Saturday in Brooklyn for the first time this season.