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Grizzlies snap Miami's 17-game home win streak

Apr 7, 2012 - 3:06 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Fresh off one of their best wins this season, the Miami Heat threw up one of their biggest stinkers.

Their head coach called it a butt-kicking.

Rudy Gay scored 17 points and the Memphis Grizzlies snapped Miami's 17-game home winning streak Friday night with a wire-to-wire 97-82 victory.

Mike Conley and Marreese Speights added 15 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who have won four of five, and Zach Randolph came off the bench for 14 points and 14 rebounds in a dominating team win.

Not only did the Grizzlies lead from beginning to end, except for a short time in the third quarter, they were in complete control of one of the league's top teams.

"The first time I looked up," said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, "we were up 15 points."

The Heat's home streak, the best in the NBA this season, ended one win shy of the franchise record of 18 set during the 2004-05 season. Their previous loss at American Airlines Arena came Jan. 22 to Milwaukee.

LeBron James had 21 points, including 11 in the third quarter as Miami tried to rally, while Dwyane Wade scored 20 and Chris Bosh added 19.

The Heat were coming off a 98-93 victory over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, but trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half against the Grizzlies and by as much as 21 down the stretch.

They were down 48-32 at the break, but started to bounce back, shooting nearly 57 percent in the third quarter and cutting the deficit to 10 points four times: twice on Bosh jumpers and twice on layups by James and Wade.

Conley helped the Grizzlies stay ahead with back-to-back three-pointers and they carried a 73-61 lead into the fourth quarter, staying ahead by at least 13 the rest of the way.

"We showed a little bit of resolve to continue to compete," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra "(But) you have to give Memphis credit. They kicked our butt."

Memphis, No. 5 in the Western Conference, forced 11 Heat turnovers in the first quarter -- Wade had three by himself -- while shooting better than 52 percent. Gay scored nine points in the quarter and the Grizzlies took a 25-12 lead into the second.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 19 points five times before halftime and held the Heat to 30 percent shooting, dropping them to 33.3 percent in their worst offensive first half of the season.

Game Notes

Grizzlies guard Tony Allen wasn't with the team because of a facial laceration he suffered in a loss at Dallas on Wednesday...It was the only meeting of the season between the teams. They split each of the last three two-game season series...The Heat are No. 2 in the Eastern Conference and fell to 2-1 on a five-game homestand that continues Sunday versus Detroit...The Grizzlies will start a three-game homestand Saturday against the Mavericks.