Having Zach Randolph back in the lineup wasn't even enough game homestand on a winning note tonight versus the Washington Wizards.
Randolph had been sidelined since New Year's Day with an MCL tear in his right knee, missing 37 straight games, and recorded 25 points and nine rebounds in Friday's 114-110 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors.
"I felt pretty good once I got into the groove," said Randolph. "My timing is a little off. I felt rusty on both ends. I just have to get getter and keep improving."
Marc Gasol scored a season-high 28 points and Rudy Gay buried a game-tying three-pointer with less than a second left in regulation, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. O.J. Mayo scored 10 points off the bench for Memphis, which has lost two straight and three of four games since winning five in a row and nine of 10 games.
The Grizzlies are 15-7 at home, 4 1/2 games behind San Antonio for first place in the Southwest Division and seeded fifth in the Western Conference. After hosting the Wizards, the Grizz will hit the road against the Kings, Blazers, Clippers and Lakers. Memphis is slated to play nine of 11 games away from Beale Street after tonight.
Marreese Speights had just one point in less than nine minutes of action, but is still averaging 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in his last six games. His time will drop now that a healthy Randolph is back in the fold.
Washington will continue a six-game road trip Sunday and is just 1-3 so far on the trek following Friday's 102-88 loss in Atlanta.
Trevor Booker had 18 points and nine rebounds, while John Wall finished with 14 points, seven boards and nine assists for the Wizards, who lost for the 11th time in the past 14 tries.
"We were two totally different teams that first and second half," said Wizards head coach Randy Wittman. "You can't be one team one half and come out in the second half and do what we did from an offensive standpoint."
Washington was without newly-acquired big man Nene and hopes to have him in the lineup soon. Brian Cook also landed in Washington before the NBA trade deadline and could be available tonight. Wall is averaging 19.5 points, 9.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds, while shooting .477 from the field in 10 games since the All-Star break.
Booker is averaging 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 10 games since the break.
The Wizards will close out the road swing in New Jersey on Wednesday and own a 4-17 record as the visitor.
Washington and Memphis are meeting for the first and only time this season after splitting a home-and-home set a year ago. The Grizzlies have won nine of 12 over the Wizards and six in a row as the host in this series.
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