Gasol scores 38 to power Grizzlies past Pistons
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Marc Gasol tied his career high with 38 points and the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 98-86 victory over the slumping Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at The Palace.
The veteran center made 14 of 17 shots from the field and 8 of 11 free throws. He added five rebounds and four assists. Gasol had a 38-point game against New Orleans last season.
JaMychal Green was the only other Grizzlies player to score in double figures with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Grizzlies forward Chander Parsons returned after an 18-game absence with a bone bruise on his left knee. He scored two points in 15 minutes.
Memphis (19-12) is now 8-0 in the second game of back-to-backs. It lost 112-109 in overtime to Boston on Tuesday.
Power forward Jon Leuer had 18 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Pistons (14-17), who have dropped four straight.
Coach Stan Van Gundy was planning to insert Leuer into the starting lineup, but that decision was delayed because Leuer was involved in a car accident on Wednesday morning.
Detroit point guard Reggie Jackson also scored 18 points and had seven assists. Jackson retreated to the locker room in the opening minutes after experiencing left knee soreness but returned later in the quarter.
Pistons center Andre Drummond added 13 points and 19 rebounds.
Memphis took advantage of nine Pistons turnovers while opening an 18-point lead early in the second quarter. The Grizzlies had runs of 13-0 and 14-3 during that span.
The Pistons closed within four, but the Grizzlies nudged their advantage to nine at 53-44 by halftime. Gasol led the way with 17 first-half points.
The game got away from Detroit during the third quarter. Down 65-61, the Pistons went scoreless for more than five minutes while Memphis reeled off 14 straight points. Gasol capped that stretch with a 3-pointer and a layup.
Leuer ended the Pistons' drought with a jumper, but they trailed 79-63 when the quarter ended.
The Pistons had one more run in them, closing to 88-81 midway through the fourth quarter. Troy Daniels' 3-pointer re-established the Grizzlies' double-digit lead.
Gasol had a chance to set a career high but split two free throws in the final minute.
NOTES: Home losses to Sacramento, Utah and Boston made Memphis coach David Fitzdale question the team's veterans. "Our leadership stunk the last three games," he said before the game. "That's the truth. I'm a truth machine. I don't dodge anything." ... Pistons C Andre Drummond is just one of two players with at least 10 20-rebound games since the 2013-14 season. He has 31 and Los Angeles Clippers C DeAndre Jordan has 29. ... Grizzlies G Andrew Harrison leads NBA rookies with a 3.5 assists per game. ... The teams were ranked 1-2 in preventing second-chance points entering the game. The Pistons were allowing 9.8 per game and the Grizzlies were giving up 11.3. ... Detroit lost seven of its last eight home games to Memphis. ... The teams don't meet again until April 9.