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Grizzlies maul Raptors

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marreese Speights had 18 points and 12 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies to their third straight win, a 103-82 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
Linas Kleiza, Quincy Pondexter
Atlanta Hawk Jamal Crawford shoots on Toronto Raptor Ed Davis during the Hawk’s 104-101 win in Toronto on Wednesday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marreese Speights had 18 points and 12 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies to their third straight win, a 103-82 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph finished with 17 points apiece, Randolph adding 13 rebounds and six assists. Mike Conley had 16 points, going 4 of 5 on 3-pointers, and Rudy Gay added 14 as Memphis maintained the best record in the NBA (11-2).

DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 16 points, while Kyle Lowry and Jose Calderon scored 12 apiece. Linas Kleiza added 11 points, but was 5 of 15 from the field, as Toronto lost its sixth straight.

The Raptors played without Andrea Bargnani, their second-leading scorer, who sat out after hurting his left ankle in Tuesday night’s loss at Houston.

Memphis dominated the points in the paint 46-32 and held a 46-33 advantage on the boards, including 12-7 off the offensive glass, leading to 16 second-chance points.

The Grizzlies led 48-47 at the break in a half that saw 14 lead changes and six ties. The Grizzlies had an early nine-point lead, but from there it was closely played.

Conley had 10 points for Memphis, going 3 of 4 outside the arc.

Kleiza already had 11 points for Toronto, but it took him 13 shots to connect on five.

He was taking the bulk of the shots as DeRozan and Lowry, Toronto’s two leading scorers with Bargnani out, combined for only 4 of 7 shots in the first half.

Otherwise most of the team stats were close, representing the first half.

Memphis changed that to open the third quarter.

The Grizzlies put together an 11-1 run to open its first double-digit lead of the game. Then they continued to turn up the defence.

Tony Allen blocked DeRozan and grabbed the ball, then finished the break with a dunk. That put Memphis up 70-53.

Memphis ended up forcing seven turnovers in the period and outscoring Toronto 33-14, carrying an 81-61 lead into the fourth. The Raptors were only 4 of 17 from field in the third.

After that, the most excitement came with 3:37 left when Quincy Acy was called for a flagrant foul on Gay, who took exception to the play. Acy and Gay also got technicals.