Grizzlies pile up points against Suns
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Conley scored 29 points and Marc Gasol added 28 -- hitting all five of his 3-point attempts -- to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 130-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Grizzlies, who got 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench from Zach Randolph, finished 3-0 against the Suns this season, with each win by at least 18 points.
Phoenix, 0-3 since the All-Star break, got 20 points from Eric Bledsoe and 17 from TJ Warren.
Memphis enjoyed another torrid shooting night against the Suns. The Grizzlies shot 57.7 percent in their two previous wins and nearly matched it Tuesday night, finishing at 55.8 percent.
Memphis's point total was 29 points above its average of 100.8, which ranked 27th in the league.
The Grizzlies led 93-85 entering the fourth quarter and quickly built a 15-point advantage by scoring the first seven points of the period: a layup from Brandan Wright, a 3-pointer from James Ennis and a dunk by Randolph.
Memphis eventually led by as many as 21 in the final quarter
Behind Gasol's long-range accuracy, the Grizzlies built a 72-66 lead early in the third quarter. Gasol knocked down three 3-pointers in the opening five minutes, including a 25-footer on the team's opening possession for a 58-56 lead. Memphis never trailed the remainder of the game.
When Conley made the second of two free throws in the closing seconds of the quarter, Memphis led 93-83, its biggest margin to that point.
In the first half, the Suns shot 56.1 percent and led 56-55. Phoenix scored 30 of its first-half points in the paint.
The Suns wound up hitting 51.8 percent of their field-goal attempts.
NOTES: Tempers flared for the second time in as many meetings between the Grizzlies and Suns. There were four ejections late in the fourth quarter of a Feb. 8 Grizzlies win at FedExForum. On Tuesday, Grizzlies reserve G/F Vince Carter was ejected after striking Suns G Devin Booker with an elbow that knocked Booker to the floor while Carter was driving to the rim. Carter drew a double-technical, and the Suns C Alex Len was whistled for a technical for confronting Carter after the play. ... Grizzlies C Marc Gasol had his 26th game with multiple 3-pointers. In his first eight seasons in the NBA, Gasol had only 12 3-pointers. ... The Suns ended a three-game, post All-Star break road trip and will play five straight at Talking Stick Resort Arena starting Thursday against Charlotte. ... The Grizzlies play host to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.