Grizzlies 109, Nets 90
NEW YORK -- Point guard Mike Conley scored 20 points as the Memphis Grizzlies had little difficulty in their first game without center Marc Gasol and pulled away in the second half for a 109-90 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
Reserve forward Jeff Green added 12 of his 18 points in the third quarter when the Grizzlies made 7 of 11 3-pointers and shot 61 percent from the floor.
Zach Randolph made his first start of the season for the Grizzlies at center in place of Gasol and added 15 points. Forward JaMychal Green tied his season high with 13 points and former Nets swingman Vince Carter contributed 11.
The Grizzlies played their first game since they learned that Gasol would be out indefinitely with a fractured right foot. Memphis rebounded from the bad news and overtime home losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers by shooting 52.3 percent from the field and making 9 of 20 3-pointers.
Memphis (31-22) led for the final 33:05 after the first quarter featured 12 lead changes. The Grizzlies converted 22 Brooklyn turnovers into 25 points and posted their 11th double-digit win of the season.
Center Brook Lopez scored 20 points for the Nets (14-40), who lost for 17th time in 21 games. Guard Wayne Ellington added 18 points, but forward Joe Johnson went scoreless and failed to make a field goal for the first time in 938 games, ending the league's longest active streak.
Memphis never trailed after Conley hit his first 3-pointer with 9:05 remaining for a 31-29 lead. After the Grizzlies took a 50-45 lead at halftime, Conley hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions and they scored the first 10 points of the second half.
Memphis officially put the game out of the reach with a 3-point barrage late in the third quarter. Randolph hit 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 3:42 left and Green drilled three 3-pointers in a span of 54 seconds, extending the lead to 82-58 and prompting boos from some fans.
NOTES: Coach Dave Joerger said he is unsure how Memphis will adjust offensively after losing C Marc Gasol indefinitely to a fractured right foot. He said he won't know until the team practices after the All-Star break. ... The Nets announced they will unveil a new Brooklyn practice facility next Wednesday. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov is expected to attend. ... Wednesday marked the one-month anniversary of Lionel Hollins being fired by the Nets. He coached the Grizzlies before the Nets. Asked about him, Memphis PG Mike Conley said, "For me, it was tough to see him get fired. I want him to have a job. I want him to have an input on people's careers and change people's careers kind of how he did mine." ... Nets interim coach Tony Brown said he has not any conversations with the front office about possible roster changes before next Thursday's trade deadline.