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Lowry, Rockets edge Grizzlies

Feb 21, 2012 - 5:23 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Kyle Lowry scored a game-high 24 points with nine assists and seven rebounds as the Houston Rockets held off the Memphis Grizzlies, 97-93, on Monday.

"My legs feel better, and it's the best I've felt in awhile," said Lowry about his performance. "We just have to continue with one more game and then we have the break and that will be the time to recuperate."

Kevin Martin netted 22 points and Luis Scola chipped in 10 for the Rockets, who have won two straight and three of their last four.

Rudy Gay paced the Grizzlies with 23 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Conley scored 16 as Memphis saw its four-game win streak come to an end. Marreese Speights had 12 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort.

After a back-and-forth three quarters, Houston finally grabbed a handle on the game, scoring the first 10 points of the final frame to take an 86-76 lead with 9:19 left in the contest.

The Grizzlies responded, though, scoring the game's next six points as they pulled within four, 86-82, with 5:21 remaining.

Memphis went the next four-plus minutes with only one field goal until an O.J. Mayo layup with 27.4 seconds left put the Grizzlies down just two, 91-89.

Memphis would pull within two three times down the stretch, as they elected to force the Rockets to earn the win from the charity stripe.

However, Houston would answer the call, knocking down 6-of-6 from the line to hold off the Grizzlies.

Courtney Lee was 4-of-4, while Lowry was perfect on his two foul-shot attempts to seal the victory for the Rockets.

"We can't bank off them missing foul shots," said Gay about his team's effort in the second half. "We have to do our work early and we did for the most part. We had a little lax in the second half and that's what happened. We started off bad and we were fighting back ever since then."

Marc Gasol capped the first-quarter scoring as his jumper gave the Grizzlies a 31-28 advantage after one.

Memphis led 54-51 with 2:22 left in the half, but the Rockets reeled off the next seven points down the stretch to take a 58-54 advantage into the locker room.

The Rockets finished the first half shooting 66.7 percent from the field, which marked a season-high for any half this year.

Neither team led by more than seven in a third quarter that saw four different ties, including a 76-76 mark at the end of the quarter.

Game Notes

Both teams take on the Philadelphia 76ers in their final contests before the All-Star break, as Memphis will host the Sixers on Tuesday, while the Rockets will welcome them on Wednesday...Memphis has now lost 10 straight in Houston...Houston improved to 12-4 at home this year.