Randolph scores 23 points, leads Grizzlies to 11th straight home win, 99-94 over Magic

Randolph leads Grizzlies to 11th straight home win

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach Randolph had 23 points and 19 rebounds, O.J. Mayo added 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies won their 11th straight home game, 99-94 over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

Marc Gasol added 19 points, and Rudy Gay had 15 for Memphis. Mike Conley finished with 14 points and seven assists for the Grizzlies, who snapped the Magic’s three-game winning streak.

With the victory, the Grizzlies matched their 24 wins from last season.

Dwight Howard led Orlando with 27 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks, while Rashard Lewis scored 19 points. Vince Carter had 15, while Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick had 11 apiece.

The teams were tied at 94 on Randolph’s tip-in with 1:34 left. Gay then tied up Nelson on the ensuing Magic possession, and won the jump ball, leading to his reverse layup for a 96-94 lead with just under a minute left.

Gasol’s layup and free throw with 21.4 left extended the lead to 99-94, ensuring the Grizzlies would extend their franchise-record home winning streak.

The physical game led to both teams shooting under 47 percent — Memphis 46 percent, the Magic 42 percent. Orlando had 19 turnovers, Memphis 18.

Memphis closed the half with a 24-6 rally and took a 52-50 lead at intermission thanks to Randolph’s shot from 63 feet at the buzzer. Randolph grabbed a rebound on Carter’s miss from 13 feet, dribbled to the middle of the floor and heaved a high-arching attempt from the top of the key on Orlando’s end and swished the shot.

The shot stood after an officials review.

Defensively, the Magic pushed the Grizzlies in the post. Lewis was denying the interior pass to Randolph in the post, and Howard was banging with Gasol in the middle.

Memphis matched the intensity after Orlando built its biggest lead, 44-28, starting a rally that ended with Randolph’s shot.

The physical play continued in the second half, but no one ever led by as many as Orlando did in the first half.

Orlando was ahead 79-77 after three periods.

NOTES: Grizzlies C Hamed Haddadi was on the active roster to help Memphis defend Howard. Coach Lionel Hollins said he wanted to have all of the post players he could in case Howard’s play put the Grizzlies in foul trouble. Howard, who leads the league in blocks at 2.52 a game, almost reached his average on one Memphis possession. He swatted DeMarre Carroll’s attempt at the rim, then got Sam Young’s drive at the basket. The two blocks eventually led to a shot clock violation. Howard recorded his 33rd double-double, including six straight. Redick left the game with 7:15 left after hitting his head and causing a laceration on a play under the Grizzlies’ basket. The Grizzlies 11 consecutive home wins equals the longest streak in the NBA this season. The Lakers and Cavaliers also won 11 straight at home earlier in the season. Gasol had three steals in the first quarter, tying his career-high. He ended with a career-best four.