Grizzlies 108, Bucks 90
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Five Grizzlies scored in double digits as Memphis rolled to a 108-90 victory over the Bucks Wednesday at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
Memphis (3-1) shot 53 percent from the field and was paced by an 18-point, 13-rebound effort by center Zach Randolph and got 17 and 14 points, respectively, from Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol.
Marreese Speights scored 18 amd Mike Conley had 13.
The Grizzies' offense was clicking on all cylinders, connecting on 44 of 83 shots and they were a combined 6-for-16 from beyond the arc. Defensively, Memphis's size advantage kept Milwaukee guards Brandon Jennings and Monte Ellis off-balance all night.
The Bucks' starting backcourt shot a combined 11-for-38 from the field as Jennings scored 19 to lead Milwaukee and Ellis adding 15.
A 13-4 run to open the second half helped the Grizzlies build a 68-49 lead with 7:27 left in the third quarter. The Bucks came roaring back with a 12-2 run of their own, getting within 12 at 71-59 with 3:12 left in the quarter.
Milwaukee finally got within single-digits late in the quarter. After picking up the steal, Jennings broke down the open court and was wrapped up by Speights underneath the basket. Speights was called for a flagrant foul and Jennings hit both free throws to make it a 75-66 game. The Bucks kept possession and got within eight on a Larry Sanders dunk with one minute left in the quarter.
That was the closest Milwaukee would get the rest of the way. Back-to-back three pointers by Quoncy Poindexter and Wayne Ellington put Memphis up 81-68 after three quarters.
Memphis kept Milwaukee off the board for nearly four minutes to open the fourth. The Bucks' first points in the quarter came on rookie John Henson's first NBA basket, making it an 87-72 game at the 8:04 mark.
Memphis shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field and outrebounded Milwaukee, 16-8, to take a slim, 23-22 lead after the first quarter. After scoring the last four points of the first, Memphis opened the second with a 9-0 run which included back-to-back three-pointers by Jerryd Bayless that made it a 32-22 game with 9:24 left in the half.
The Bucks ended the run when Brandon Jennings converted a three-point play at the 9:08 mark but Memphis built its lead with a powerful post presence, outscoring Milwaukee 24-14 in the paint while shooting 54 percent from the field and held a 56-43 lead at the half.
Milwaukee's Monte Ellis opened the game 1-for-10 from the field, his only basket coming from a goaltending call on Rudy Gay, and shot just 3-for-12 in the first two quarters.
NOTES: Backup point guard Beno Udrih was inactive for Milwaukee after injuring his right quadriceps during practice earlier in the week. ... Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins told reporters he plans to use an 8- or 9-player rotation this season. Three Grizzlies - Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph are all averaging at least 36 minutes per game. .... Randolph entered the game as the leading rebounder in the NBA (16.0 rpg). ... John Henson, Milwaukee's first-round draft choice (10th overall) was active for the first time this season.
