Memphis rookie Rudy Gay scored 21 points,
including 11 in the fourth quarter Saturday night, to lead the
Grizzlies to a 101-89 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit had taken a 78-77 lead with 8:34 left, but Memphis put
together a 20-6 run to go up 97-84 with 2:33 left. Gay scored nine
in the stretch.
Dahntay Jones added 17 for Memphis, going 6-of-8 from the floor,
while Hakim Warrick scored 13 and had eight rebounds. For the second
straight game, Lawrence Roberts had double-digit rebounds with 10 in
15 minutes. Gay, the rookie out of Connecticut, has led Memphis in
scoring in all three pre-season games.
Five Pistons scored in double figures, led by 16 from Jason
Maxiell. Flip Murray added 14 and Carlos Delfino had 13. Chauncey
Billups was the only Detroit starter in double figures with 10
points, matching the total by Amir Johnson.
The Grizzlies were without starters Mike Miller, who had the nail
on his right big toe removed, and centre Jake Tsakalidis, who has a
sore right knee. Since the Grizzlies cut Kimani Ffriend on Friday,
that left six-foot-eight Brian Cardinal, normally a forward,
starting at centre.
On the Detroit side, Nazr Mohammed didn't play, so Antonio
McDyess was in the middle with Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace
at the forwards. Detroit officials classified Mohammed's night off
only as a ``coach's decision'' before the game.
The Pistons starters were in for most of the third period, but
Memphis held a 75-70 lead entering the final period when Jones hit
another basket at the end of the quarter.
