Grizzlies maintain dominance over Suns
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Conley scored 23 points and Marc Gasol added 19 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 110-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in a game that saw three players ejected in the final minutes at FedExForum.
It was the Grizzlies 11th win in the past 13 games against the Suns dating to the 2013-14 season and their second in nine days.
The Grizzlies, playing without top reserves Zach Randolph (foot injury) and Vince Carter (scheduled rest), led for all but the game's first four minutes.
Memphis prevailed behind a solid defensive effort that limited the Suns to 33.3 percent shooting. The Grizzlies also relied on a barrage of 3-pointers to offset an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers. Memphis (33-22) made 10 of its 14 second-half 3-point attempts.
The Suns (16-37) lost for the eighth time in nine games. Devin Booker paced Phoenix with 20 points, while Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight had 16 each.
Memphis pulled away in third quarter and extended its lead to 71-53 on successive 3-pointers by Troy Daniels. The Grizzlies led by just 51-46 earlier in the quarter after a pair of free throws by Bledsoe.
Phoenix rallied in the final minutes of the third quarter by going on a 12-2 run that trimmed the Memphis lead to 72-65. However, the Grizzlies closed the quarter with seven straight points -- two free throws and a 3-pointer by Conley and a dunk by Brandan Wright -- for a 79-65 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies never allowed the Suns to get closer than 10 points. Conley, James Ennis, Toney Douglas and Troy Daniels connected from beyond the arc in the final quarter.
The last of Daniels' four 3-pointers came with 1:10 left and led to a brief shouting and shoving match that produced multiple technical fouls and ejections.
After Daniels' basket made it 106-88, the Suns' Alan Williams and Daniels exchanged words. When the Suns' Tyler Ulis stepped in, Daniels shoved him back before officials and coaches intervened. Officials Ken Mauer, Tyler Ford and Courtney Kirland spent nearly 10 minutes reviewing the skirmish and eventually ejected Ulis and Marquese Chriss of the Suns and Daniels. Six technical fouls were called following the incident, four on the Suns.
The Grizzlies led 46-38 at the half, enjoying an advantage by shooting slightly better than the Suns. Memphis shot 42.5 percent in the opening half to 34.2 percent for Phoenix.
Memphis wound up hitting 48.6 percent of its field-goal attempts.
NOTES: If Suns G Devin Booker maintains a scoring average of 21 points or above, he would join a special group. Only five players -- LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Shaquille O'Neal and Kryie Irving -- have averaged 21 points during a season before age 21. ... Entering Wednesday's game, Grizzlies F/C Brandan Wright had made 10 of 17 shots in his first four games back this season after returning from an ankle injury. However, he shot just 2 of 8 while scoring five points against Phoenix.