Walker, Lamb lead Hornets past Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Charlotte guards Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb each scored 21 points as the Hornets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 104-85 Monday night at FedExForum.
Lamb, who came off the bench, also had nine rebounds, a steal and a block. Walker had three rebounds and three assists, but also committed five turnovers.
Up by 17 points at halftime, the Hornets stretched their advantage to as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter and Memphis never got the deficit below 10 points in the second half.
Charlotte (10-7) also got 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal from forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Forward Frank Kaminsky chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Grizzlies (11-7) lost starting point guard Mike Conley at the 8:25 mark of the third quarter when he was run over by Kidd-Gilchrist, who was called for a charge. Conley (14 points, five assists and two steals) suffered a low back injury and did not return. Conley came into the game needing 20 points to surpass Pau Gasol as the Grizzlies' all-time leading scorer.
Pau's younger brother, center Marc Gasol, paced Memphis with 19 points and eight rebounds. Forward Jarell Martin finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and swingman Tony Allen had nine points, four rebounds, two steals and a block.
Charlotte made 36 of 82 shots from the field for 43.9 percent and hit 9 of 26 from 3-point range for 34.6 percent. The Grizzlies made 36 of 89 shots for 40.4 percent and were 7 of 29 from distance for 24.1 percent.
This game wrapped up the teams' season series, with the Grizzlies winning a week ago in Charlotte. The Hornets improved to 5-3 on the road and Memphis is now 5-4 at home.
Charlotte closed the second quarter on a 19-4 run and led 56-39 at halftime. The Hornets outscored the Grizzlies 31-14 in the second quarter and Kidd-Gilchrist led all scorers with 14 points at halftime.
NOTES: Even this early in the season, first-year Memphis coach David Fizdale has discovered that his lineups are going to be in a constant state of flux. On Monday against Charlotte, the Grizzlies were again without F Chandler Parsons (knee), F James Ennis (calf) and PF Zach Randolph (death in the family). And the Grizzlies are wanting to hold down the minutes of PG Mike Conley and C Marc Gasol, further challenging Fizdale. Finding the right combinations, he said, is a "gamble and a roll of the dice." ... Charlotte had both a four-game winning streak and four-game losing skid this season. ... Hornets G Kemba Walker was tied for the second-most 25-point, five-assist, and five-rebound games among Eastern Conference players with four entering Monday. ... Hornets F Marvin Williams missed his second straight game with a hyperextended left knee. ... Memphis played the fifth of its seven straight games against the East.