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Gay leads Grizzlies to another win over Warriors

Nov 8, 2008 - 7:48 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Rudy Gay scored 23 points, including a clutch 3-pointer inside the final minute, while rookie O.J. Mayo added 20 for the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard-fought, 109-104, victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

"The Warriors are a team that scores a lot of points and they score points in a hurry," Mayo said.

"Whatever our biggest lead was, nine-10 points, it's not a lot of points to the Warriors because they only led the NBA in scoring last year so we understand that playing on the road we really had to get stops and contest all their jumpers and being 0-3 on the road we wanted to prove that we could win on the road."

It was the first road win for the Grizzlies, who are in the second game of their four-game trip. Memphis had lost its last four games at Golden State.

"We had played some pretty good teams and we felt, if you keep plugging away, we were going to get it, and it was good that we finally got the monkey off our back," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said.

Stephen Jackson scored 27 points, while center Andris Biedrins added 23 and 12 rebounds for his 13th consecutive double-double and Kelenna Azubuike scored 21 points for the Warriors, who have lost two straight to the Grizzlies this season.

"We should've won but we are kind of thin," Azubuike said. "I thought we fought hard but had some breakdowns at the end. It's just us, we've got to play our game and make free throws down the stretch and execute down the stretch.

"In the fourth quarter, you can't use tiredness or anything as an excuse."

And now may finally be the time for the young Warriors to prove themselves.

In the first sign of an upcoming shake-up within the team, Golden State fired assistant general manager Pete D'Alessandro and replaced him with assistant coach Larry Riley.

Also after the game Wednesday against Denver, Nelson told the media he would grant Al Harrington's request to be traded after Harrington told the media a day before the season began, that he was unhappy with his lack of playing time.

Harrington was placed on the inactive list with a strained lower back and was not at the arena, possibly signaling the end of his time with Golden State.

"For the good of the franchise we have to anticipate that he won't be here and do what we have to do to not be all of a sudden totally surprised about a different lineup," Nelson said. "It's not that he's not going to play, he will play.

"But we've got to look to the future here. A guy shouldn't be in a place where he doesn't want to be. It's hard for him to give his best and his all. So, it's a good thing for both parties at this point."

With second-year players C.J. Watson and Brandan Wright in the starting lineup and rookie Anthony Randolph coming off the bench, the Warriors kept pace the entire game.

Golden State started the fourth quarter down seven points.

After a putback shot by Gasol and a dunk from Warrick, the Grizzlies had an 11-point lead. The Warriors fought back and, after a 3-pointer by Kelenna Azubuike, they trailed by five points with 6:46 remaining.

Azubuike got fouled on the continuation of a fast-break layup and, after completing the three-point play, the Warriors trailed by two points with 6:08 remaining.

Ahead by one with 2:41 remaining, Marc Gasol was fouled trying to make a fade-away jumper. He made both free throws to give Memphis a 99-96 edge. Warrick drove the baseline and dunked for a five-point lead with 2:10 to play.

Up by three, the Grizzlies worked the shot clock and Darrell Arthur found Gay for an open 3-pointer which was the dagger that gave Memphis a six-point lead with 56 seconds left.

"It's about time we get some of those broken plays going our way," Iavaroni said. "Darrell Arthur did a nice job on the pass to Rudy, and Rudy didn't hesitate he just knocked it down. You know Rudy is capable of those shots."

The Warriors would get within three points with 15 seconds remaining but the nail was in the coffin after a pair of free throws by Michael Conley.

"Its real tough, a game we should've won," Jackson said. "A lot of mistakes - I gave up a three at the end rotating to Arthur and giving Rudy a three at the end of the game. I missed four free throws so if I make my four free throws and don't give up that three at the end we probably would've won the game.

"The young guys played well. We didn't play hard enough. Down the stretch, I am the leader of the team. I've got to be smarter and can't give up a wide-open three to their best player at the end of the game."

The Grizzlies closed out the third quarter with an 10-0 run capped by a fade-away jumper from Mayo and led 81-74.

Golden State had a two-point lead with 1:43 remaining in the second quarter when Darko Milicic was ejected arguing a call on a loose-ball foul. The Warriors led 50-48 at the break.