Gasol helps Grizzlies beat Rockets
Updated: 2007-11-14 14:25
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Pau Gasol scored 26 points, including four free throws in the final minute, and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame 41 points from Tracy McGrady to beat the Houston Rockets 105-99 on Tuesday night.
 Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol, center, of Spain drives to the basket between Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) of China and forward Luis Scola (4) of Argentina in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, in Memphis, Tenn. [Agencies] |
Darko Milicic added 20 points, while Mike Miller finished with 17 as Memphis snapped Houston's three-game winning streak. Rudy Gay scored 15 for the Grizzlies.
Free throws were the difference in the game, as Memphis connected on eight straight in the final two minutes after Houston tied the game at 97. Memphis scored 34 points from the line, compared to 17 for the Rockets.
Yao Ming added 22 points for Houston and reserve Mike James had 10.
The Rockets could never get the lead to double digits at any point through three quarters, and Memphis overtook Houston entering the final stanza.
The Grizzlies extended the advantage to as many as eight in the early stages of the fourth quarter, fueled by an 8-2 run. Milicic and Stromile Swift recorded blocks, and Memphis built its lead while going inside while McGrady got his final rest before the stretch run.
After Memphis built the lead to 94-85, McGrady, who entered the game with about 7 minutes left, hit a 3-pointer and a layup. His drive tied the score at 97 with 2:10 left.
Free throws by Kyle Lowry and Gasol gave Memphis a six-point lead with under a minute to play. Miller's two free throws with 7.4 left were the final margin.
Houston entered the game as the league's second-best rebounding team, but Memphis controlled the boards 44-36, including eight by Lowry and seven from Miller.
The Rockets led 53-49 at halftime.
Houston shot better than 60 percent for much of the first quarter behind McGrady, the league's second-leading scorer. He was 6-of-8 from the field and scored 15 of his 22 first-half points in the first period.
But Memphis was getting a surprising offensive contribution from Milicic, who not only had 11 points in the opening period, but drew a pair of early fouls against Yao. Milicic, along with fellow 7-footer Gasol, scored 13 points apiece for Memphis, which took its first lead on a 3-pointer from Juan Carlos Navarro with just under 5 minutes left before the break.
Memphis stayed close through the third period, despite McGrady's 12 points in the quarter. But Gasol connected on a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left to give Memphis an 80-79 lead entering the fourth.
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