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Gay, Randolph pace Grizzlies over Utah

Jan 8, 2011 - 6:37 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Rudy Gay scored 28 points, Zach Randolph added 26 with 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies never trailed in a 110-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.

"They hurt us a little bit on the glass, but we forced turnovers and just kept playing defense and never really let them get back," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.

Memphis won for the fifth time in seven games while handing the Jazz their third loss in five contests. The Grizzlies held Utah to 40 percent shooting in the second half while getting a combined 29 points from Gay and Randolph.

"We did a heck of a job in the second half," Hollins said. "And Rudy and Zach kept making buckets."

Paul Millsap, after missing Wednesday's loss to Atlanta with a bruised right hip, scored 20 points to lead the Jazz. Deron Williams added 19 points and Al Jefferson scored 16 with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Memphis had 17 steals in the game and forced Utah to commit a season-high 23 turnovers, converting those giveaways into 27 points.

Gay and Tony Allen led the way with four steals apiece for the Grizzlies.

But as good as they were defensively, the Grizzlies also scored early and often. Gay opened the game with a three-pointer and Memphis never even allowed Utah to tie it.

Randolph scored 11 of his 26 points in the first quarter and the Grizzlies carried a 27-23 lead into the second. They overcame 11 points from Williams in the second to take a 49-44 lead at halftime.

But Memphis did most of its damage in the second half, holding the Jazz to 30 percent shooting in the third quarter while building a lead as large as 14 points on a jumper from Gay with 2 1/2 minutes left in the frame.

The Grizzlies carried a 76-65 advantage into the fourth and it ballooned as high as 15 points twice, the last time when Gay's three made it 91-76 with 7:36 remaining.

The Jazz never got closer than six the rest of the way.

"We had 23 turnovers and gave up 27 points off of that. It seemed like we could never get it going," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said.

Game Notes

Memphis shot 49 percent to Utah's 47...O.J. Mayo had 13 points off the bench for the Grizzlies. Marc Gasol added 12 and Mike Conley scored 10...Earl Watson had 12 points in a reserve role for Utah.