76ers match franchise record with 14 3-points, beat Grizzlies 120-101

76ers rout Grizzlies 120-101

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marreese Speights scored 22 points, Philadelphia matched a franchise record with 14 3-pointers and the 76ers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 120-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

Jason Kapono and Andre Iguodala each had 15 points, Jodie Meeks had 14, and Willie Green added 12. Philadelphia was 14 of 26 from 3-point range and shot 57 percent overall.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 23 points, and Zach Randolph had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Rudy Gay and Darrell Arthur added 14 each for Memphis, 1-4 in its last five.

Philadelphia built its lead in the third quarter, outscoring Memphis 35-20, then maintained the advantage through the fourth. The game got so out of hand enough that Memphis coach Lionel Hollins took his starters out with more than 2 minutes left, giving the fans a chance to cheer for them one more time in the Grizzlies’ home finale.

With both teams out of the playoffs, it was a matter of finishing out the season, and, at times, the defensive intensity was lacking. Both teams shot better than 50 percent in the first half.

Memphis built a 10-point lead early in the second period, but had trouble maintaining the margin as Rodney Carney (11 points) came off the bench for eight points, and Meeks added nine, primarily because the Sixers were accurate from 3-point range. Philadelphia connected on eight of its first 13 shots outside the arc.

But Memphis rallied, including a 40-footer at the horn by Conley, after a steal at midcourt, to take a 58-51 lead at halftime.

Conley and Randolph had 11 points apiece for Memphis.

The Sixers scoring was so balanced that 10 players had points, but none were in double figures until Elton Brand’s jumper with 8 minutes left in the third gave him 10 points.

Philadelphia came out with more energy after halftime. Kapono led a Sixers’ assault from outside the arc, and Memphis was mishandling the ball, giving up fast-break opportunities.

Philadelphia erased Memphis’ halftime lead by outhustling the Grizzlies, building its advantage to as many as 13 in the third. The Sixers’ third-quarter rally helped Philadelphia carry an 86-78 lead into the fourth period.

NOTES: The Grizzlies ended the season with an 8-2 record against the Atlantic Division. Their only other loss was 110-105 to Boston on Dec. 14. … The loss dropped Memphis to 13-2 at home against teams with a losing record. … Philadelphia has two players with ties to Memphis. Carney played at the University of Memphis. Thaddeus Young is from Memphis. Young did not play because of injury. The Sixers announced Wednesday that the forward would be shut down for the rest of the year with a fractured right thumb. … Memphis G O.J. Mayo left the game midway through the first quarter because of a mild left ankle sprain. He returned later in the quarter, but was hobbling, before finally leaving for good.