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Grizzlies rout Knicks, clinch playoff berth

Mar 24, 2015 - 4:23 AM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Zach Randolph had 23 points and seven rebounds, Marc Gasol added 21 points and eight boards and the Memphis Grizzlies routed the New York Knicks 103-82 on Monday night.

With the victory, Memphis secured its fifth consecutive playoff berth, its third straight 50-win season and 100th win for head coach Dave Joerger.

"It is more about how you are feeling and how you go into the playoffs. It is something you can't control much but the way team plays matters," Gasol said of the postseason.

Vince Carter hit four 3-pointers and netted 14 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who have won five of their last six games.

Langston Galloway provided 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points for New York, which has dropped six of its last seven games.

A Jason Smith jumper pulled the Knicks within 62-58 late in the third quarter, but the Grizzlies embarked on a 19-5 run that bled into the fourth to seize complete control of the contest.

Randolph's driving layup in the waning moments of the third helped Memphis to a 74-61 cushion heading into the final frame.

Carter, who netted 11 points during the surge, nailed consecutive 3-pointers to cap the burst for an 81-63 Grizzlies advantage at the 10:26 mark.

"We just kind of ran out of gas there at the end of the third quarter," Knicks coach Derek Fisher said.

New York never got within less than 11 the rest of the way.

Earlier, a Gasol three-point play finished off an 11-2 sprint at the 4:35 mark of the opening period for a 21-9 spread. Nick Calathes knocked down a triple at the buzzer to make it 30-20.

The Knicks, however, outscored Memphis 28-20 in the second and pulled within 50-48 at the break.

Game Notes

Only the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Grizzlies have made the last four Western Conference playoffs ... The Grizzlies recorded their fourth 50-win season in franchise history ... Memphis has won four consecutive games over the Knicks and improved to 5-4 in their last nine meetings at Madison Square Garden ... Memphis outscored New York 56-32 in the paint.