Grizzlies crush Nuggets in NBA

Jan 30, 2015 - 9:04 AM Memphis has cruised to its fifth straight win and opened a small gap at the top of the NBA's Southwest Division with a dominant 99-69 win over Denver.

The Grizzlies moved two games clear of Houston, which beat Dallas on Wednesday.

Among other games, the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a nine-game losing streak against an unlikely opponent, beating Central Division leader Chicago in double overtime.

Zach Randolph had 15 points and 17 rebounds, Jeff Green added 13 points and Memphis won its fifth straight.

Memphis held the Nuggets to just 11 points in the first quarter and were never threatened the rest of the way as Zach Randolph recorded his 10th consecutive double-double; 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Jeff Green added 13 points in an even scoring effort for the Grizzlies.

Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried each scored 10 points for Denver, which lost for the eighth time in the past nine.

Los Angeles' Jordan Hill scored 26 points and forced the second overtime with a clutch jump shot, as the Lakers beat Chicago 123-118.

Wayne Ellington scored 23 points for the Lakers, who needed big late baskets from everybody in their patchwork lineup to avoid matching the longest losing streak in Lakers' history: 10 games back in 1994.

Jimmy Butler matched his career high with 35 points for the Bulls, who rallied from a nine-point deficit in 70 seconds late in regulation.

Milwaukee won at Orlando for the first time in 18 visits, beating the Magic 115-100, with Jerryd Bayless scoring 19 points.

Indiana routed New York 103-82, with Rodney Stuckey contributing 22 points for the Pacers.

Source: AAP