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Valanciunas powers Raptors past Grizzlies

Mar 15, 2014 - 2:29 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Jonas Valanciunas netted 23 points, including four in a late Toronto tear that helped the Raptors take a 99-86 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at Air Canada Centre.

A Mike Miller free throw tied the game with 6:24 to play, but the Grizzlies went the next five-plus minutes without a point, allowing the Raptors to run away with the contest.

Greivis Vasquez sparked the burst with five straight points before Valanciunas added a pair of buckets around a DeMar DeRozan 3-pointer to give Toronto a 92-80 cushion with 2:34 remaining, essentially sealing the outcome.

Vasquez finished with 17 points, DeRozan scored 16 and Kyle Lowry registered 22 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who have won two straight and five of their last six games.

"It's more important that we won and not look at my game," Valanciunas said. "We have to win. We played good and we won."

Zach Randolph recorded 16 points and eight boards to pace Memphis, which had a four-game win streak halted after managing just one field goal over the final eight minutes of the contest.

"We didn't make free throws and didn't make a lot of shots," Memphis head coach David Joerger said. "Hats off to (the Raptors)."

Memphis led 24-19 after 12 minutes, but Vasquez poured in 12 of his 17 points in the second to help the Raptors take a 47-44 lead at halftime.

The Grizzlies opened the second half with nine straight points to regain control, as Courtney Lee's 3-pointer gave the visitors a 51-47 lead.

With the margin at three shortly after, Lowry and Terrence Ross sank consecutive triples to spark an 11-2 Toronto run that Amir Johnson capped with a jumper for a 65-59 lead.

Toronto took a 71-67 edge into the fourth, but Memphis scored the first four points of the final frame to tie the game.

Game Notes

Memphis fell to 18-13 on the road, while Toronto improved to 20-12 at home this season ... The Raptors won both meetings with Memphis this season to sweep the series for the first time since 2007-08 ... Memphis outscored Toronto 50-34 in the paint ... Memphis scored 22 points off 17 Toronto turnovers.