• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Conley helps Memphis down New Orleans

Mar 10, 2013 - 7:07 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Mike Conley led seven Memphis players in double-figures with 22 points to go along with eight assists and three steals as the Grizzlies downed the slumping New Orleans Hornets, 96-85, on Saturday.

Tony Allen registered 14 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Grizzlies, who have won four straight and 12 of their last 13 games overall. Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter scored 13 points apiece in the victory, which was also the seventh straight at home.

Anthony Davis paced New Orleans with 20 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, while Ryan Anderson followed with 17 points and seven boards for the Hornets, who have lost three straight and eight of their last 10.

"When any team plays in our paint, they can do whatever they want," Davis said, noting the physical play of the Grizzlies.

Memphis led after one quarter, 25-19, though the Hornets tied the contest four minutes into the second as Davis had a driving lay-in to make it 29-29. The rest of the second went back-and-forth, but Memphis took an 8-1 swing to close the first half, as Marc Gasol's jump-hook increased the lead to 47-41 at the break.

The Hornets opened up the action in the third quarter scoring the first six points to tie the game up, but that's the closest the contest would remain for some time.

Memphis ended up closing the third with a convincing, 31-13 surge, to take an 18-point, 78-60 edge into the final quarter. Jerryd Bayless and Conley capped off the action with an alley oop and a triple, respectively, all in the closing 30 seconds of the quarter.

"I think our focus, coming out at halftime, understanding what we need to just, executing, has been phenomenal," Conley said.

New Orleans seemed baffled and made just 6-of-22 shots in the third.

Memphis' lead and clutch third quarter run proved to be too much for the visitors, who never got closer than 11 points the rest of the contest.

Game Notes

The Grizzlies are 25-8 at home ... The Hornets played their first game without rookie Austin Rivers, who suffered a broken bone in his right hand in a loss to the Lakers on Wednesday ... Gasol and Bayless each had 10 points ... The Hornets are 10-22 away from home ... Greivis Vasquez added 12 points and eight assists in defeat ... Memphis starts a four-game western road trek Tuesday at Portland.