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Randolph, Gasol carry Grizzlies past Raptors

Jan 22, 2015 - 6:34 AM Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Zach Randolph finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Marc Gasol scored a game-high 26 points as the Memphis Grizzlies downed the Toronto Raptors 92-86 in a battle of division leaders.

Gasol added seven boards and five assists, while Mike Conley netted 12 points, including Memphis' only 3-pointer during a late run that put the game away.

The Southwest Division leaders rebounded from Monday's home loss to the Mavericks and have won five of six overall.

Lou Williams and Kyle Lowry scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, while Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto, which still holds a healthy lead atop the Atlantic Division but has gone just 3-8 over the last 11 games.

"Once our offense catches up with our defense we'll be back to...winning more games," Lowry said.

The Raptors pulled down 18 offensive rebounds over the first three quarters to help offset an ugly 33.3 percent shooting effort. Their 18 second-chance points staked them to a 61-60 lead going into the fourth, but their struggles from the field continued as they missed their first six shots.

Gasol hit a hook shot and a jumper to open the final quarter, then assisted on buckets from Jon Leuer and Nick Calathes for a quick 8-0 run that gave Memphis the lead for good.

Grizzlies head coach David Joerger commented after the game regarding Gasol's chance at starting in this year's All-Star Game.

"It would mean a lot to everyone in the organization and I think the whole city," Joerger said. "He deserves the accolade."

Toronto was 2-for-21 from 3-point range prior to Lowry draining one with under six minutes to play. The triple cut the deficit to one, but a Calathes layup off a give-and-go with Gasol followed by two Randolph baskets extended the Grizzlies' lead to 77-70.

Another Lowry 3 pulled the visitors within four, and the Grizzlies answered with the next seven points, including Conley's make from behind the arc that helped seal the win. Memphis was 0-for-6 from deep prior to Conley's make.

There were five lead changes and 14 ties in the first half, which ended with Memphis holding a slim 41-38 lead.

Game Notes

Randolph has recorded seven straight double-doubles since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for nine games ... Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, who recently missed 21 games with a groin injury and was held scoreless his previous two games, finished with six points on 2-of-11 shooting ... Toronto had won the previous three meetings.