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Mayo lifts Grizzlies over Nuggets in OT

Feb 1, 2012 - 7:33 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The third time was a charm for the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

After a pair of missed shots and two offensive rebounds, O.J. Mayo rose up from the top of the arc and nailed the go-ahead three-pointer with 35.1 seconds remaining in overtime, helping the Grizzlies snap a four-game losing streak with a thrilling 100-97 win over the Nuggets.

Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol both recorded double-doubles with 20 points and 13 rebounds while Mayo added 18 for the Grizzlies, who overcame a 12-point fourth quarter deficit.

"The fact we were able to confront ourselves as a team, and person to person, allowed us to look at the game like, 'Hey, it's only 12 points. We can come back,' said Memphis guard Mike Conley about his team's resilience.

Al Harrington netted 23 points to go with 10 rebounds for Denver, which has lost two in a row since winning six straight.

Harrington's three-pointer with 9:00 left in the fourth gave the Nuggets a 77-65 advantage, but the Grizzlies rallied to force overtime.

Trailing, 89-85, with 1:34 to go in regulation, Tony Allen put back Gay's miss to pull the Grizzlies within two and then forced a backcourt violation on the other end.

Mayo's floater in the lane tied the game at 89 with 33.6 to play.

Following Harrington's putback layup with 10.3 left, Mayo dribbled into the paint and dished to Allen along the left baseline. He went up strong and finished with a two-handed dunk to tie the game with five seconds left.

In overtime, a pair of Harrington free throws put the Nuggets up 97-93 with 2:27 to play.

But the Grizzlies scored the final seven points of the extra frame.

Mayo's layup cut the margin to two and Allen blocked Harrington inside to get the ball back for Memphis with 1:09 to play.

Mayo first missed a jumper, but Conley came down with the offensive rebound and found himself open for a three-pointer. But he missed and Allen then corralled the second offensive rebound. Conley hit a wide-open Mayo and his three-pointer from the top of the arc went down for a 98-97 Memphis advantage -- the first lead change since the opening quarter.

"In overtime, they outhustled us on many misses with the lead and made a big 3," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We made them take two or three shots before they got it, but we ran out of gas."

Aaron Afflalo turned the ball over on Denver's ensuing possession and Conley nailed a pair of free throws to make it 100-97 with eight seconds left.

Rudy Fernandez had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his trey from the left wing was off the mark.

Denver took a 23-19 lead into the second. It was a tightly contested opening stanza as the game featured 13 lead changes and three ties.

Nene had 11 points and five rebounds in the opening half as Denver took a 49-37 lead into the locker room.

Harrington netted eight points in the third quarter as Denver led, 67-60, heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Andre Miller had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for Denver...Allen finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Grizzlies...Memphis outrebounded Denver 48-42 and 17-9 on the offensive boards...Danilo Gallinari was just 1-of-10 from the field and finished with eight points for Denver...The Nuggets recorded 25 turnovers.