Gay, Memphis inch closer to playoffs

MEMPHIS — Rudy Gay scored 21 points and had a key block in the final seconds as the Memphis Grizzlies won their fourth in a row, 93-89 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.

Gay, who was 9 of 16 from the floor, blocked Wesley Matthews’ three-point attempt with about five seconds left to seal the victory and send the short-handed Trail Blazers to their fifth consecutive loss.

O.J. Mayo scored 14 points for Memphis and Marreese Speights had 13 points with Marc Gasol and Dante Cunningham both adding 12 points.

J. J. Hickson scored 23 points to lead Portland, while Jamal Crawford had 21 points despite going 5 of 13 from the floor, part of the Trail Blazers’ 37 percent shooting for the game. Matthews had 16 points and Luke Babbitt added 10 points.

The victory kept Memphis’ hopes alive to try to reach the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies moved within a half-game of the idle Los Angeles Clippers, who hold the fourth spot.

Memphis dominated inside holding a 58-32 advantage in the paint, and seemed in control until a final Portland burst late in the fourth quarter.

Hickson scored seven early points in the fourth, part of a 10-2 run that pulled Portland within 83-77 with about seven minutes left.

Memphis Coach Lionel Hollins responded by putting his starters back in the game. The Grizzlies rebuilt the lead to double digits as Gay scored inside and Gasol had two baskets.

Still, the Trail Blazers pushed back with 10 consecutive points and trailed 91-89 with 10.1 seconds left and they the ball.

But Matthews’ three-point attempt with about five seconds left was blocked by Gay. Mayo hit two free throws with 3.2 seconds left.

Memphis led 54-45 at halftime, bolstered by Mayo’s nine points in the second quarter. The Grizzlies outscored Portland 30-18 in the period, erasing an early deficit.

Gay’s three-pointer with 24 seconds left gave Memphis the only double-digit lead of the half.

Memphis connected on its first five shots in the game, but managed to shoot 49 percent in the half. The Blazers, meanwhile, were at 38 percent. Seven turnovers, leading to 10 Memphis points, also hindered Portland, while Memphis committed three turnovers.

Portland ended the night with 15 turnovers compared to 10 for Memphis.

In other games on Saturday, Elton Brand scored 20 points and Lou Williams added 19 to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 109-106 in overtime, stopping Indiana’s winning streak at seven games. Jrue Holiday scored 17 points and Andre Iguodala added 16 points for the 76ers. The 76ers left the game needing just a win or a loss by Milwaukee to clinch a spot. ... Lebron James and Chris Bosh sat out the game, resting for the postseason. Dwyane Wade played and got hurt. Wade lasted less than three minutes before dislocating his left index finger, and without their three starters, the Miami Heat lost 86-84 to the woeful Washington Wizards. ... Courtney Lee scored 20 points, Goran Dragic added 18 points and seven assists and the Houston Rockets snapped a six-game losing streak with a 99-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Luis Scola had 13 points and Chase Budinger added 11 points for the Rockets, who came into the game in the 10th spot in the Western Conference, one game behind Utah and Phoenix. ... Luol Deng scored 22 points, Richard Hamilton added 19 points and the Chicago Bulls held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 93-83. The victory by the Bulls (48-16) gave them a 2 1 ⁄ game 2 lead over Miami for the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Chicago has two regular-season games left, against Indiana and Cleveland. ... Brandon Jennings scored 30 points to lead the host Milwaukee Bucks to a 106-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets that kept their slim playoff hopes alive. Jennings, who hit three consecutive three-pointers late in the game, was 9 of 18 from the floor and finished with 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.