NBA

Conley continues hot streak

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mike Conley had 21 points and 13 assists and Zach Randolph added 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 108-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

Paul Millsap scored 21 points for the Hawks, who had won two consecutive. It was only the third time the Hawks lost to the Grizzlies in the past 15 games.

Memphis pulled away in the fourth quarter behind Conley, who tied a career best with 31 points in a victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Conley had eight points in the final quarter, including two free throws that gave the Grizzlies a 102-92 lead with 2:46 left.

Conley is averaging 26.3 points in his last three games: an overtime loss to San Antonio and victories over Phoenix and Atlanta.

The Hawks used a 16-0 run to end the third and start the fourth to take an 80-77 lead, but the Grizzlies recovered behind Conley and reserves Mike Miller and James Johnson.

Miller also had eight points in the fourth quarter for the Grizzlies, including two three-pointers. He finished with 15 points. Johnson had 7 points, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Both of his blocks came in the final period.

Newly acquired Courtney Lee added 15 points for the Grizzlies (17-19) and his three-pointer gave Memphis an 84-82 lead with 8:48 left. The Grizzlies never trailed again.

The Grizzlies built an early seven-point advantage and maintained a lead for most of the opening half. The Hawks took a 26-23 lead to start the second quarter after Shelvin Mack’s three-point play tied the game at 23 and Mike Scott’s three-pointer gave Atlanta its first lead.

But Memphis went up 30-28 Miller’s three-pointer 30 seconds later and gradually rebuilt a seven-point lead. Lee connected on a jumper from the baseline as time expired to give the Grizzlies a 48-41 halftime lead.

The Grizzlies scored 28 points in the paint in the first half, while the Hawks committed nine turnovers.

Memphis extended its lead to 13 points late in the third quarter, going up 77-64 on a fast-break layup by Miller. The Hawks closed the quarter with consecutive three-pointers to trim the Grizzlies’ lead to 77-72 entering the fourth.

KINGS 124, CAVALIERS 80

SACREMENTO, Calif. - Isaiah Thomas scored 26 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third consecutive victory in a rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Kings scored 16 consecutive points in the third quarter and led by 28 points heading into the fourth. The three-game winning streak is Sacramento’s first since December 2012. The 45-point margin was the largest this season for the Kings.

Sports, Pages 21 on 01/13/2014

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