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Grizzlies extend Bobcats' losing streak

Apr 21, 2012 - 5:56 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Mike Conley had 20 points, seven assists and three steals, as the playoff-bound Memphis Grizzlies used a strong finish to beat the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, 85-80.

Zach Randolph added 14 points and six rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won three in a row and sit one game behind the idle Los Angeles Clippers for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Gerald Henderson tied a career-high with 32 points for the Bobcats, who extended their franchise-record losing streak to 19 games. Byron Mullens tallied 11 points and 11 boards.

"[Henderson] took it upon himself to have a great game tonight. That's really what kept us alive," Bobcats head coach Paul Silas said.

The Bobcats took a 65-57 lead into the fourth quarter, but Memphis came storming back in the final period.

The Grizzlies started the stanza on a 10-3 flurry to get within one. Conley's floater cut the gap to 68-67 with 9:09 to play.

Memphis went on a 10-0 run moments later to take the lead. Dante Cunningham recorded a pair of dunks during the burst, which Conley capped with a layup for a 79-71 edge with 4:53 to go.

Charlotte kept it close and got within three, 80-77, on Mullens' slam with 1:23 left.

After Quincy Pondexter made two free throws for Memphis, Mullens stepped out of bounds along the baseline. Cunningham made 1-of-2 from the foul line to give the Grizzlies an 83-77 margin with 38.6 seconds remaining.

Henderson responded with a three-pointer, then stole the ball away from Memphis. But Henderson's 10-foot jumper was off the mark, leading to a pair of Conley free throws.

The Bobcats started the game on a 17-4 run, but only took a 21-17 lead into the second.

Neither team lead by more than six in a second period that ended with Charlotte holding a 39-37 margin.

Holding a 50-49 edge with 5:02 left in the third quarter, the Bobcats went on an 11-2 spurt to create some distance. Derrick Brown tallied six points during the flurry, including a reverse layup with 1:22 remaining for a 61-51 lead.

It was a 65-57 game heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Memphis had lost four straight at Charlotte...The Grizzlies went 15-18 on the road this season...Charlotte's 19-game losing streak is the NBA's worst since Cleveland dropped 26 in a row from Dec. 20, 2010-Feb. 9, 2011...The Bobcats have lost 12 in a row at home...If Charlotte (7-55) fails to win any of its remaining four games it will finish with a .106 winning percentage, which would be worse than the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished 9-73 for a winning percentage of .110.