Grizzlies 91, Trail Blazers 78
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Forward Zach Randolph came off the bench to match his season high with 26 points and grab a season-high 18 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies built a big lead and turned it into a 91-78 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at the Moda Center.
Guard Courtney Lee added 16 points for the Grizzlies (19-17), who won for the third time in four outings.
Guards Damian Lillard (17 points) and CJ McCollum (16 points) combined for only 10-for-32 shooting for the Trail Blazers (15-22), who also got 15 points and 14 rebounds from forward Al-Farouq Aminu.
For the game, Memphis shot 38.5 percent from the floor, and Portland shot 38.9 percent.
Randolph had 12 points and seven rebounds to stake Memphis to a 38-34 halftime lead. Both teams shot poorly -- Memphis at 34.8 percent, Portland at 32.4 percent. The Grizzlies were 1-for-8 from 3-point range, the Blazers 1-for-12. McCollum and Lillard had a combined nine points in the half.
First Lillard, then McCollum drained 3-pointers to tie the score at 40-40 early in the third quarter. Randolph and guard Mario Chalmers keyed a 28-9 surge to push Memphis back in front 68-49 late in the period. The margin was 70-52 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies' lead was 80-65 when guard Allen Crabbe and Lillard knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut it to 80-71 midway through the final period. Forward Meyers Leonard sank another trey to draw the Blazers within 84-76, but it was as close as they were to get.
Neither team could score early. Memphis started 2-for-16 from the field, Portland 2-for-12, and the Blazers led 6-5 with four minutes left in the first quarter.
Memphis went on a 8-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. The Grizzlies finished the quarter 8-for-27 from the field but still took a 17-15 advantage into the second quarter.
The Grizzlies outscored the Blazers 9-2 to make it 26-17, then settled for a four-point edge at intermission.
NOTES: G Damian Lillard returned to the Portland lineup after missing seven games with plantar fasciitis. The Blazers went 4-3 in his absence with CJ McCollum sliding over to the point from shooting guard. ... McCollum came in averaging 30.3 points in his previous four games. ... Memphis G Mike Conley has been dealing with back issues recently and did not practice for two days prior to the Grizzlies' game at Miami on Dec. 29. "It's been going on and on," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "He walks like he's older than his age." ... The Grizzlies have gone to a smaller lineup in recent games, using small forward Jeff Green at power forward and bringing power forward Zach Randolph off the bench. "We feel it's helped us a lot defensively," Joerger said. "Since we've made the change, our defensive efficiency has jumped dramatically, and we're in every game. We're giving ourselves a chance to win."