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Arenas leads Wall-less Wizards past Memphis

Nov 20, 2010 - 8:10 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Gilbert Arenas poured in 24 points and the short-handed Wizards held on for an 89-86 win over Memphis, to deal the Grizzlies their fifth straight defeat.

Kirk Hinrich added 22 points and six assists for Washington, which bounced back from a 31-point loss at Boston Wednesday. Guard John Wall (sprained left foot) and center Yi Jianlian (bruised right knee) were both sidelined for a third straight game. JaVale McGee tallied 10 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and a trio of blocks in the win.

"Tonight it seemed like we were having trouble finding our rhythm, all night," Hinrich said. "Offensively, it just wasn't coming naturally like sometimes it does. So, just trying to change up the game, muck up the game and tough it out. That's what we were able to do."

Zach Randolph had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis, which also received 16 points and eight boards from Marc Gasol.

Gasol made 1-of-2 foul shots with 37 seconds left to get the visitors within three points. After Al Thornton missed a jumper for the Wizards, Gasol got the rebound and the Grizzlies called timeout with 10 seconds left. O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley both missed straight-on three-pointers in the waning seconds. Mayo finished 1-of-11 from the field.

"Mistakes we're making down the stretch do hurt us," Conley said. "It's starting to hurt us a lot down the stretch. We have to be more disciplined when it comes down to the last couple minutes of the game."

A hook shot from Randolph gave the Grizzlies a 77-73 lead, but the Wizards then embarked on a 12-2 spurt. Arenas gave the hosts the lead for good by nailing a three-pointer with 4:16 left. A Blatche three-point play capped the rally.

Arenas had nine points during the opening quarter, as the Wizards grabbed a 25-24 edge after 12 minutes. It was tight throughout the second quarter, and a running jump shot from Greivis Vasquez moved Memphis to a 45-43 halftime lead.

Gasol's jam expanded the difference to 55-47, but the Wizards came storming back a short time later with Arenas making a free throw to tie the game at 58 with under five minutes left in the third. Blatche's jumper gave the Wizards a 65-60 lead, although Memphis went to the fourth with a 68-66 advantage.

Game Notes

Memphis had won its last four against the Wizards...Blatche ended with 17 points...Conley scored 12, while Rudy Gay tallied 11 with seven rebounds and six of his team's 19 turnovers...The Wizards shot 37.8 percent from the field.