Grizzlies easily handle shorthanded Nuggets
DENVER -- Marc Gasol scored 24 points, Mike Conley scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the depleted Denver Nuggets 119-99 on Wednesday night.
Zach Randolph and Vince Carter scored 14 each for the Grizzlies (30-21), who have won three straight.
Emmanuel Mudiay scored 14 points and had seven rebounds in his first game since injuring his back Jan. 21. Kenneth Faried had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Denver (21-27), which had its five-game home winning streak snapped.
Denver played its third straight game without center Nikola Jokic, who is out with a left hip flexor strain, and guard Will Barton missed his second consecutive game with left ankle soreness.
The shorthanded Nuggets were further compromised when Jameer Nelson got ejected 4:07 into the game when it appeared he was talking to an official from the bench area after being whistled for his second foul.
Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari left late in the third with a left groin strain and did not return.
Denver coach Michael Malone rotated players in almost like changing lines in a hockey game but the Nuggets couldn't find any chemistry without key players.
The Grizzlies took advantage of a tired, injured team. Conley and Gasol combined for 30 points in the first half to help give Memphis a 62-49 lead at the break. The Grizzlies led by as many as 16, and only a trio of 3-pointers from Arthur kept Denver close.
The Grizzlies maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third quarter thanks to Gasol. He had 10 points and added three assists in the period, the last of which was on Carter's 3-pointer that made it 81-66.
A James Ennis 3-pointer and Zach Randolph's layup gave Memphis a 19-point lead late in the third. The lead grew to 25 on a 3-pointer by Troy Daniels with 4:58 left. By then, both teams had emptied their benches.
NOTES: Nuggets G Will Barton missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. Coach Michael Malone said it started bothering Barton on Tuesday morning and felt the same when he woke up Wednesday. He was scheduled to have the ankle examined Wednesday. ... With the return of Brandon Wright on Monday, the Grizzlies were at full strength for the first time this season. ... Nuggets G Emmanuel Mudiay returned to action after missing five games with lower back soreness. He didn't start and was on a minutes restriction. ... F Nikola Jokic missed his third straight game with a left hip flexor strain but Malone said he was close to returning.