ATLANTA (AP) ― Memphis had not won a game in Atlanta in more than six years.
The Grizzlies took care of that skid in a big way. Rudy Gay scored 21 points, four other teammates were in double figures and Memphis blew out the listless Hawks 96-77 Thursday night.
“It was outstanding defense from the start,” said coach Lionel Hollins, whose team came up with 13 steals. “We started executing and our defense just took over from that.”
Memphis snapped a five-game losing streak at Philips Arena, winning for the first time since an 85-84 triumph on Nov. 12, 2005.
“We haven’t won here in so long,” Gay said. “We know we can beat teams, but the reality is there’s still a long way to go.”
Memphis pulled away late in the first half, closing on an 18-7 run that gave the Grizzlies a 10-point lead at the break. They totally blew it open in the third quarter after Atlanta missed its first seven shots and turned it over three times.
The Hawks were coming off a 4-1 road trip that left them tied with Miami for the Southeast Division lead. But they looked exhausted in their return to Atlanta, putting up ugly jumpers, playing pedestrian defense and struggling just to hang on to the ball.
Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (front) drives past Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol while scoring in the first quarter in Atlanta on Thursday. (AP-Yonhap News)
While fatigue could’ve been a factor after a grueling road trip in the compressed, post-lockout schedule, that didn’t totally explain why the Hawks were so sloppy with the ball.
“When you have this kind of season, it happens,” center Zaza Pachulia said. “But that’s not an excuse. We’re a good team. Good teams have to find a way to regroup.”
Gay and the Grizzlies ran the court with abandon and slammed down several thunderous dunks. The sparse crowd at Philips Arena began booing in the third quarter, then mostly headed for home early in the fourth as Memphis stretched the lead as high as 30 points.
Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo scored 18 apiece for Memphis, while Mike Conley had 15. Marc Gasol turned in a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Dante Cunningham chipped in with 10 rebounds off the bench.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with 11 points, playing only 19 minutes.
Both teams cleared their benches in the final minutes and the only thing the Hawks could take solace in was avoiding their worst loss of the season, which remains a 22-point defeat at San Antonio.
The Hawks got an omen of things to come when backup center Jason Collins tumbled to the court chasing a loose ball late in the first quarter. His left arm was pinned under Cunningham, leaving the 7-footer writhing on the court with a sprained elbow that finished him off for the night. The Hawks were already shorthanded in the middle with Al Horford recovering from surgery for a torn pectoral muscle that will keep him out for most, if not all, of the regular season.
Grizzlies 96, Hawks 77
Bulls 105, Knicks 102
Sppurs 93, Hornets 81
Kings 95, Trail Brazers 92
Warriors 119, Jazz 101
Nuggets 101, Clippers 79
Collins isn’t much of a factor statistically. Still, his big body was missed when Gasol and the Grizzlies started going inside.
“We knew after Collins went out that they were a little small in the front court, so we wanted to try to get some penetration and get it to our big fella, Marc,” Conley said. “We felt like we had an advantage there and we tried to use it all night.”
The Hawks never found an answer for Memphis’ inside game. The Grizzlies finished with 58 points in the lane, matching the most allowed by Atlanta this season.
“We just didn’t have the size to match up with Gasol,” Willie Green said. “We put (Pachulia) on him, and he did a good job, but it takes a team effort. We’ll see how the injury is and try to move forward as a team. But it’s definitely a tough loss if he’s out.”
Atlanta was up 36-35 with 5 minutes left in the opening half. That’s when the game turned Memphis’ way.
Mayo knocked down a jumper, Gasol hit a turnaround hook and Allen laid it in off a nifty pass from Gay. After Jeff Teague missed a jumper, Gay broke ahead of the pack, took a pass from Conley and jammed it down. Then Mayo stole the ball from Joe Johnson, feeding Allen for another layup.
The Hawks got a bit of a spark when Marvin Williams swished a 3-pointer, but Allen matched it with a 3 of his own just ahead of the buzzer, sending the Grizzlies sprinting to the locker room up 53-43.
Atlanta never got closer.
Johnson was smothered by the Grizzlies and finished with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Ivan Johnson, also with 10, was the only other Hawks player in double figures.
Grizzlies 96, Hawks 77
Bulls 105, Knicks 102
Sppurs 93, Hornets 81
Kings 95, Trail Brazers 92
Warriors 119, Jazz 101
Nuggets 101, Clippers 79
caption: Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (front) drives past Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol while scoring in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Atlanta on Thursday. AP-Yonhap News
