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Grizzlies cruise past Hornets

Apr 11, 2011 - 4:01 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - O.J. Mayo netted 18 points to lead five Memphis players in double figures and guide the Grizzlies to a 111-89 drubbing of the New Orleans Hornets.

Both teams will be playing in the postseason and share 46-34 records to sit one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers, currently the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff race.

Marc Gasol ended with 16 points and seven rebounds, Zach Randolph and Sam Young each scored 14 and Greivis Vasquez chipped in 13 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who have won nine of their last 11 games.

Marco Belinelli paced New Orleans with 18 points, while Chris Paul was held scoreless for the first time in his six-year career.

"He had to dish it out to guys and force other guys to score ... and force them to shoot more than they normally would," said Memphis guard Mike Conley. "I think that's what the game plan was; try to get the ball out of his hands as much as possible."

The Hornets had won three in a row since losing to Memphis on April 1, but without much help from their All-Star point guard, they couldn't match the Grizzlies' 60 percent shooting effort.

"I thought tonight it came to a head for us," said Hornets head coach Monty Williams. "Clinching, having all the good stuff happen to us, I thought we let our guard down a bit. Nothing to panic about, but at the same time we have to make sure we get it back."

Memphis held a 52-48 lead at halftime and never trailed in the final 24 minutes. A dunk by Gasol three minutes in pushed the margin to 60-52, and Randolph's jumper and free throw a little later made it 69-56.

The Grizzlies were up 82-67 at the end of the third, and Shane Battier's three-pointer capped a 13-3 run to start the fourth that all but put the game away.

The first quarter ended in a 30-30 tie.

Game Notes

These teams split the four-game season series...Paul went 0-for-6 from the floor and missed both his free throw attempts. He also recorded 10 assists...The Hornets have games left against Utah and Dallas, while Memphis plays road games against the Trail Blazers and Clippers...The Grizzlies went 30-11 at home this season.