Grizzlies hold off Jazz, Warriors rebound from loss

LOS ANGELES: Guard Mike Conley finished with 19 points and nine assists as the Memphis Grizzlies managed to hold off a fourth quarter rally from the Utah Jazz for an 88-79 NBA win Sunday.

Forward Zach Randolph came off the Grizzlies’ bench in front of a crowd of 16,100 at the FedExForum to post a double- double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

“I was really happy with the effort,” Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said. “We gave it from start to finish.”

The error-prone Jazz dropped to 23-16 on the season. They are first place in the Northeast Division and the Grizzlies are in third in the Southeast, but the Grizzlies ( 24-16) are in fifth overall in the Western Conference standings, one spot in front of Utah.

The Ja z z c ommi tt e d 18 turnovers that Memphis turned into 26 points. Forward Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 22 points, George Hill tallied 15 and forward Trey Lyles chipped in 11 points off the bench.

The Jazz rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to get within five at 82- 77 with 69 seconds to play on a basket by guard Hill. But with 24 seconds left in the game, Jazz center Rudy Gobert fouled Memphis center Marc Gasol from behind the three-point line.

Gasol made all three free throws to boost the lead to 85-77 and Utah never got closer than six points.

“That is what they do,” said Hayward.

“They’re good at it. They’ve got guys that pressure the ball and are good defenders, forcing you to do things you don’t want to do at times and speed you up.” — AFP