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Gordon, Holiday lead Pelicans over Grizzlies

Dec 14, 2013 - 5:19 AM New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Gordon scored 25 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat Memphis 104-98 on Friday night, ending the Grizzlies' five-game road winning streak.

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and 12 assists and Ryan Anderson scored 18 for the Pelicans, who went over .500 for the second time this season (11-10) after a 2-2 homestand.

Jon Leuer scored 19 points off the bench to lead Memphis. Mike Conley added 18 and Zach Randolph scored 13 with 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost three in a row to New Orleans.

Memphis shot 64 percent in the first quarter for a 34-26 lead and almost 53 percent in the second, but trailed 55-54 at halftime.

After giving up 34 points in the first quarter, the Pelicans surrendered just 31 in the next two periods combined.

New Orleans coach Monty Williams chalked up the slow defensive start to the Grizzlies' hot hands.

Conley and Leuer had 12 points apiece in the first half and were a combined 11-for-16 from the floor.

"The first quarter was not something to be happy about but our guys grinded it out in the second and third," said Williams. "That happens. We don't like it but sometimes teams just make shots."

Gordon scored nine points during an extended 25-5 Pelicans run that turned a 60-59 deficit into an 84-65 lead in the fourth quarter. Gordon hit a trey in the final seconds of the third to make it 82-65 and Anderson capped the burst with a jumper early in the fourth.

The Grizzlies got as close as five, but not until the final seconds.

"We just couldn't score, then they just hit their shots," Randolph said of New Orleans' second-half surge.

Game Notes

New Orleans improved to 3-2 since losing center Anthony Davis to a broken hand ... The Pelicans were 9-8 after a three-overtime win in Chicago on Dec. 2 ... New Orleans starts a five-game road trip Sunday in Denver ... Memphis is home on Sunday against Minnesota.