Grizzlies prevent Hawks from seizing division lead
Atlanta — Memphis’ Rudy Gay scored 21 points to lead five Grizzlies players in double figures in the 105-102 win over a listless Atlanta on Thursday that prevented the Hawks going clear top of the NBA’s Southeast Division.
The Grizzlies pulled away late in the first half, closing on an 18-7 run that gave the visitors a 10-point lead at the break. They extended that advantage in the third quarter as Atlanta missed its first seven shots and turned the ball 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 home, putting up ugly jumpers, playing pedestrian defense and struggling just to hang on to the ball.
Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo scored 18 apiece for Memphis.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with just 11 points, playing only 19 minutes.
Nuggets 112,
Article continues after this advertisementClippers 91
Article continues after this advertisementIn Los Angeles, Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points, including all five of his 3-pointers, as Denver ended Los Angeles’ season-high four-game winning streak.
Ty Lawson added 18 points for the Nuggets, who had lost three in a row to the Clippers, their longest active losing streak against any team.
Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 18 points, hours after he and teammate Chris Paul were named as starters in the NBA All-Star game — giving the club two players on the team for the first time since 1976.
Bulls 105,
Knicks 102
In New York, Derrick Rose scored 32 points to outduel fellow All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony and lead Chicago over New York.
Rose had 15 in the fourth quarter and repeatedly answered when the Knicks rallied. With Chicago leading 88-83 midway through the final period, the reigning MVP scored on three straight possessions. He flipped in a shot from past the backboard, then hit a 3-pointer to put the Bulls up 95-88.
Amare Stoudemire had 34 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 10 seconds left. New York has lost 10 of 12, and coach Mike D’Antoni will be desperate for victories in the two games to come in the next two nights — the team’s first back-to-back-to-back for 13 years.
Anthony had 26 points but just 4 in the fourth quarter and missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime. OTHER RESULTS:Warriors 119, Jazz 101; Kings 95, Trail Blazers 92; Spurs 93, Hornets 81
