Memphis wins 11 of last 12 with victory over Cavaliers

3/9/2013

CLEVELAND — Marc Gasol scored 22 points and the Memphis Grizzlies held off a late run for a 103-92 win Friday over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Memphis, which strengthened its hold on the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race, has won 11 of 12 and is 12-4 since trading star forward Rudy Gay to Toronto on Jan. 30.

The Grizzlies' previous victory in Cleveland came on Nov. 29, 2003, LeBron James' rookie season with the Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving, who missed Cleveland's morning shootaround with flu-like symptoms, scored a team-high 24 points.

Mike Conley and Jerryd Bayless each scored 17 points and Grizzlies pulled away after the Cavaliers cut the lead to 88-84 with 5:21 to play.

Conley also had 11 assists while Bayless scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Memphis trailed 51-48 at halftime, but Gasol and Ed Davis combined for 18 points in the third quarter to help the Grizzlies build a double-figure lead.

Gasol scored 10 in the period while Davis, starting for the injured Zach Randolph, added eight. Memphis took a 72-61 lead with 4:22 remaining and still led 80-69 after three quarters.

Randolph, the Grizzlies' leading scorer with a 15.7 average, missed his third straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

Irving re-entered the game with 6:31 remaining in the fourth quarter and scored a minute later on a left-handed drive to the basket, cutting the lead to 88-84. Bayless hit a 3-pointer while Conley scored on a drive and added a jumper to push the lead to 95-86.

Irving was listed as doubtful Friday morning. He said he began filling ill Thursday night, but felt better after going to the doctor and resting most of Friday. Irving arrived at the arena about 90 minutes before game time and said he was going to play. He was 11 of 21 from the field and had three assists in 36 minutes.