Randolph, Gasol lead Grizzlies past Clippers 84-83
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to learn how to finish games on the road. This time, they closed the deal against the frustrated Los Angeles Clippers, who lost in the final second for the second straight time.
Zach Randolph had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Marc Gasol added 17 points, and the Grizzlies held on for a 84-83 victory on Saturday after Baron Davis missed an 18-footer at the buzzer.
Los Angeles took a three-point lead into the fourth, and the lead changed hands four times before consecutive dunks by Rudy Gay and Tony Allen gave the Grizzlies an 82-79 lead with 1:53 to play. Allen finished with eight points after playing 4 scoreless minutes through the first three quarters.
"Tony Allen was the difference. He got the game ball, and that sums it all up," Randolph said. "This guy may not play for two or three games, then comes off the bench ready to play. He's a good example of a professional. He works out all the time, stays in shape and does all the little things."
Randolph was 9 for 20 from the field against his former team after posting season highs of 34 points and 17 rebounds Wednesday in an overtime win at Phoenix. Gay, the Grizzlies leading scorer, was held to 12 points - 9.6 below his average - on 5-for-12 shooting in 44 minutes.
Josh Smith, Hawks hold off Pacers 97-83
ATLANTA (AP) Josh Smith took care of his sore hamstring and then took care of the Indiana Pacers, scoring 21 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 97-83 win Saturday night.
Smith was treated for cramping in his right hamstring before the game and showed no sign of being limited against the Pacers. He had consecutive three-point plays late in the fourth quarter, each time after Indiana cut Atlanta's lead to seven points.
Jamal Crawford led the Hawks with 25 points. Al Horford finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.
Crawford and Smith combined to make 18 of 21 free throws. Smith had seven rebounds and blocked two shots.
Mike Dunleavy had 16 points and Danny Granger and Brandon Rush each added 14 for the Pacers.
The Hawks have won eight straight over the Pacers and six straight in the series at Philips Arena.
Atlanta took a big lead at 43-21 in the second quarter. After Indiana cut the lead to 10 in the third period before the Hawks stretched the advantage to 75-55. The Pacers came no closer than seven points in the final period.
Celtics rout Bobcats 93-62 for 10th straight win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Down to their fourth center because of injuries and with their shots constantly clanging off the rim, the veteran Boston Celtics turned to a smothering defense.
It was so effective there was little suspense in their 10th straight win while Michael Jordan fumed.
Ray Allen and Glen Davis scored 16 points apiece and the Celtics overcame their obstacles in a 93-62 rout of Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night, leading the angry owner into the locker room for a postgame tongue-lashing of his listless bunch.
Kevin Garnett had 13 points and 11 rebounds and got to sit out the fourth quarter as the Celtics weren't threatened after halftime.
"We're beat up right now," Garnett said. "We're scrambling. We're finding ways to win and we're doing it with defense. ... We get some of our guys back and I think you'll really see who we are at that point."
Boston played its second straight game without Shaquille O'Neal, who rested his sore right calf. With Jermaine O'Neal (knee) still sidelined and Kendrick Perkins (knee surgery) out until February, rookie Semih Erden started at center.
Raptors complete record comeback to beat Pistons
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Jerryd Bayless matched a career high with 31 points and the Toronto Raptors pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history, beating the Detroit Pistons 120-116 on Saturday night.
Toronto overcame a 25-point second-half deficit to end a four-game losing streak. The victory was just the Raptors' third of the season on the road.
Andrea Bargnani added 22 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Leandro Barbosa scored 20. Ben Wallace had a career-high 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Rodney Stuckey also scored 23.
Toronto shot 65 percent from the floor in the first half, but committed 14 turnovers that led to 29 Detroit points. Meanwhile, the Pistons only turned the ball over once on their way to a 72-53 lead.
Detroit led by 25 midway through the third period, then faltered on defense. The Pistons' strong shooting kept the margin at 99-83 going into the fourth, but Toronto kept the rally going.
Bargnani's 3-pointer pulled the Raptors within 106-98 with 8:18 to go, and ex-Piston Amir Johnson followed with a three-point play.
The Raptors cut it to 110-107, and Bargnani tied it with another 3 with 2:05 left. After a Pistons miss, Bayless hit a 3-pointer and then answered Ben Wallace's putback to give Toronto a 115-112 lead with 49 seconds to go.
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