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Grizzlies take down Hornets

Jan 15, 2012 - 5:39 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Rudy Gay had 23 points and Marc Gasol scored 20 with 11 rebounds Saturday, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 108-99 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night.

Mike Conley added 17 points and Marreese Speights and Tony Allen scored 12 apiece for the Grizzlies, who have won two in a row and moved to 2-1 on a four-game homestand.

Jarrett Jack scored 23 points to lead New Orleans, while reserves Jason Smith had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Greivis Vasquez scored 14.

The Hornets lost their third straight game despite scoring a season-high 99 points. They fell to 3-9 on the season, including 1-9 in their last 10.

New Orleans fought back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter, getting within 86-75 heading into the fourth, and pulled as close as two points in the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies hung on, using a 10-2 run to take a 105-95 lead on Gay's three- pointer with around two minutes remaining. The Hornets were never closer than eight after that.

"We definitely went to a defensive lineup and got some key stops down the stretch," said O.J. Mayo, who scored nine for Memphis. "We just sustained our energy and defensive intensity throughout the end of the game."

Trying to reach 100 points for the first time, New Orleans went 11-for-25 in the fourth quarter, including 1-of-4 from three-point range, and lost despite out-shooting Memphis 46.7 percent to 44.9 percent for the game.

The Hornets led 24-20 after the first quarter and were ahead by as many as nine twice in the second, including 33-24 on two Vasquez free throws.

But Memphis countered with a 14-0 run -- Mayo scored seven of his nine points during it, including a pair of threes -- to take a 38-33 lead. New Orleans tied it a couple of times, but the Grizzlies took a 10-point lead with a 13-3 burst and had a 57-47 lead at halftime.

Game Notes

Memphis has won three straight in the series and five of the last seven meetings...New Orleans also out-rebounded the Grizzlies, 43-40...The Hornets committed 17 turnovers.