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Grizzlies Beat Spurs 94-88 for 40th Win

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 March 2004, 06:00 CST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Pau Gasol scored 27 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-88 Tuesday night for their 40th win of the season.

Gasol's two free throws with 8.4 seconds left provided the winning margin in the Grizzlies' sixth consecutive win. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the San Antonio, which hadn't been beaten since March 1 - also against Memphis.

Tim Duncan, the league's reigning MVP, remained on the injured list with a leg injury. While Memphis defeated the Spurs in three of four games this season, Duncan was injured for the last two and played only one quarter in another.

Despite shooting 17-of-28 from the free throw line, Memphis won by dominating the middle and outscoring San Antonio 56-26 in the paint. The Spurs also were hindered by 26 turnovers, matching a season high.

Gasol connected on 11 of 21 shots, and his rebounds included six on the offensive end. Shane Battier added 16 points, and Stromile Swift had 12.

Tony Parker, who led a third-quarter comeback, led the Spurs with 24 points and seven assists. Malik Rose had 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Hedo Turkoglu scored 17 points, and Rasho Nesterovic finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

If the Spurs' 10 first-quarter turnovers weren't bad enough, San Antonio opened the second quarter by missing nine of 10 shots. The Grizzlies took advantage and built the lead to 12 in the second quarter.

The Spurs reversed the trend in the third quarter. Parker scored 11 straight points for San Antonio, including a trio of 3-pointers, and by the time Nesterovic added a 15-footer to end Parker's string, the Spurs were on a 24-9 run and eventually led 62-55.

Robert Horry's 3-pointer to close out the third quarter gave San Antonio a 67-63 lead.

Notes:@ Matt Carroll, who signed with the Spurs earlier this week, went through a bit of a numbers game. Carroll was originally given No. 13, until Spurs officials realized that number was retired in honor of James Silas. Carroll then was given 19 for the Memphis game, but is expected to be No. 3 by the time the Spurs play the Clippers at home Wednesday. ... The Grizzlies announced that starting C Lorenzen Wright will miss at least two more weeks with a right knee sprain suffered against Portland on March 3. Mike Miller is listed as week-to-week with the back spasms that have sidelined him since Feb. 20. ... Memphis coach Hubie Brown was the Spurs' color commentator prior to the Grizzlies hiring him early last season.

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