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Gasol, Gay help Grizzlies end five-game slide

Jan 3, 2008 - 3:44 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Memphis Grizzlies finally got over the hump.

Pau Gasol had 30 points and 12 rebounds and Rudy Gay scored 24 as the Grizzlies snapped their five-game slide with a 90-72 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

It was just fourth road win of the season for Memphis, which pushed Indiana's losing streak to five games.

"I thought we intensified our defense (in the second half) and really worked the glass," Memphis coach Mark Iavaroni said. "We talked about not giving them many second looks, and I thought we played with good desire, as compared to the way we've been playing lately."

With the Pacers holding a one-point lead at halftime, the Grizzlies took control in third quarter behind an impressive 12-2 run to start the period, making it 55-46 on Darko Milicic's layup with 8:11 left.

Indiana drew within 57-53, but first-round pick Mike Conley Jr. sparked a 13-4 surge as Memphis extended its advantage to 70-57 at the 1:54 mark.

"I thought we executed a lot better as a team throughout the whole game," Conley said. "When they made runs, we made a run right back at them. We got a couple of stops in a row, I think we stopped them seven (possessions) in a row, and we did that twice. It was big for us to take those rebounds and turnovers and turn them into points."

In his first career start, Conley had seven points, eight assists and three steals. The 6-1 point guard was taken fourth overall out of Ohio State in June's draft.

"I think, for (Conley's) first start, he did a nice job," Iavaroni said. "The things I was most impressed with were his six rebounds, the way he kept his poise under pressure, and his command of the offense. I don't know if he'll start all year, but he will start for us against Boston."

The Pacers were never able to challenge thereafter.

"That was a very, very poor second half," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "Give them credit, they outplayed us, but 13 assists is a combination of our lack of movement and of our missing open shots."

Mike Dunleavy scored 16 points and Jeff Foster added 13 off the bench for Indiana, which shot just 30 percent (28-of-91) from the field and committed 17 turnovers.

"Anytime you lose five in a row, you take a step back," O'Brien said. "We will figure this situation out and be ready to play Friday."

Pacers perennial All-Star Jermaine O'Neal had a tough night, going 2-of-11 for four points - his lowest output of the season.