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Randolph, Grizzlies hold off Nuggets

Apr 1, 2014 - 6:01 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Zach Randolph had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 94-92 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Courtney Lee and Mike Conley finished with 19 points apiece and Marc Gasol chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies, who are in a three-way tie for the seventh spot in the Western Conference with Phoenix and Dallas.

"We just have to keep playing each game. Each game is an important game for us. We have to come out with a sense of urgency. We know what we're playing for," said Randolph.

Timofey Mozgov scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Kenneth Faried scored 17 points for the Nuggets, losers in four straight.

"I thought our guys fought hard. We never got to a point where we could take advantage of the fact that they played last night [and] they got in late. We were never able to get to where we got clean rebounds and really be able to get out and push it and force the tempo," said Nuggets coach Brian Shaw.

Nick Calathes gave the Grizzlies an 82-75 lead with 9:15 remaining in the final frame. Denver managed to cut the deficit to two points, 82-80, with 6:44 left and it remained close from there until Conley got a tough layup to fall with 4 1/2 minutes to play.

Mozgov had the Nuggets back within two with 1:35 left after splitting a pair of free throws, but a nifty up-and-under move from Randolph and a Conley 3- pointer with 35 seconds left made it a 93-88 game.

Randy Foye scored a quick layup out of a timeout to make it a three-point game and, after dribbling the clock down to just seven seconds, Randolph missed a pair of free throws to give Denver one last chance.

With just over four seconds left, Mozgov missed a 3-pointer. Mozgov got the rebound but inexplicably dunked it with just over one second left. Lee was quickly fouled on the inbounds pass and made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second. On the second, it appeared the ball failed to hit the rim, but the play went on and the clock expired and Memphis held on.

After a brief protest from Nuggets coach Brian Shaw following the game, both teams returned to the locker room.

"I'm really proud of our guys. They stuck together and did whatever they had to. It wasn't pretty," said Grizzlies coach David Joerger.

Memphis led 25-16 after the first period, but the Nuggets closed the first half on a 15-7 swing to pull within 47-45 entering the third. The Grizzlies pushed their spread to nine in the third before taking a 75-68 lead into the final frame.

Game Notes

The Grizzlies travel to Minnesota on Wednesday ... Memphis was 5-for-9 from 3- point range ... Foye had 13 points and nine rebounds and Aaron Brooks chipped in with 10 points off the bench.