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Gay, Miller lead Grizzlies to win over Sonics

Nov 8, 2007 - 6:46 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Rudy Gay and the Memphis Grizzlies added to the Seattle SuperSonics' woes.

Gay scored 25 points and Mike Miller added 20 as the Grizzlies posted a 105-98 victory over the SuperSonics on Wednesday.

Paul Gasol had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, which sent Seattle to its first 0-5 start since the 1969-70 season.

Gay shot 8-of-20 from the floor, and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Miller nailed six 3-pointers to help the Grizzlies pick up their first win of the season.

"We dug in," Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni said. "I think the guys realized they were in a fight, and on the road you have to fight to win. It doesn't matter if the other team has an undefeated record or if they are in the same situation as you, trying to get their first win."

Rookie Kevin Durant, who scored 24 points on Tuesday, struggled in this one. The second overall pick in June's draft scored 17 points but shot just 3-of-17 from the floor for Seattle.

"I don't know what happened," said Durant, who entered the game averaging 24.0 points. "I had some good looks, but I just couldn't knock them down. We had a great effort at the end, but we just laid back on a couple of possessions and that hurt us."

Memphis, which made 25-of-32 free throws and outscored Seattle by 14 points in the third quarter, took a 100-94 lead with 1:28 left thanks to a putback by Darko Milicic.

Durant then hit four straight free throws to pull the Sonics within 100-98 with 48.9 seconds left. However, the Grizzlies got an offensive rebound, and Kyle Lowry sealed the win with a 3-pointer with 11.3 second remaining.

"It was a very good shot," Gasol said. "He was wide open, and we made the right play and the right pass and obviously Kyle had to knock it down, and he did."

The offensive rebound was one of 21 for Memphis, which scored 32 second-chance points.

"The biggest thing tonight was the offensive boards," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We didn't do a good job of keeping them off the boards."

It was the first game for Seattle fans - who may not have long to enjoy the ultra-talented Durant - since SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett announced that he has filed papers to move the team to hometown, Oklahoma City.

The move is pending the outcome of ongoing litigation about the team's lease with the city of Seattle.

Meanwhile, Memphis made Seattle feel even worse with a 17-4 third-quarter run to take a 87-81 lead into the fourth - setting up a solid fourth-quarter performance.

"We had to tighten up and get some stops," Gasol said. "That's the only way you are going to make any kind of run."

Grizzlies rookie guard Mike Conley, who was the fourth overall pick in the draft, made his first appearance of the season when he entered the game with 8:32 remaining in the second quarter. He scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting.

Chris Wilcox scored 21 points and Damien Wilkins added 18 for Seattle.

Despite the team's struggling start, Carlesimo said he was not upset with his young team.

"We're learning, and it's a hard way to learn," he said. "I keep saying it, but our guys, they're trying. They fall behind and keep coming back."