Red-hot Grizzlies hand Knicks first loss

Memphis, TN – The Memphis Grizzlies have made quite the early impression.

Following back-to-back convincing wins over last year's NBA finalists, Memphis beat this season's last unbeaten team Friday and continued its best start in franchise history.

Zach Randolph had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Marc Gasol added 24 points and seven boards in the Grizzlies' 105-95 victory over the New York Knicks.

Rudy Gay netted 17 points and Mike Conley tallied 16 points and eight assists for Memphis, which is perfect since a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and surpassed New York as the league's top team for the first time in frachise history at 7-1.

The Grizzlies, who extended their home winning streak to 15 games, throttled Miami, 104-86, on Sunday before beating the Thunder in Oklahoma City, 107-97, on Wednesday.

New York, which was trying to begin 7-0 for the first time since 1993-94 -- a team that reached the NBA Finals --, was led by Carmelo Anthony's 20 points.

The Knicks calmly and cooly came back from a fourth-quarter deficit against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, but were unable to duplicate the feat a night later.

The visitors lost their composure against Memphis in the third quarter.

"It was one of those nights," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. "Tonight it was just rugged and frustrations came out,"

After Ronnie Brewer's jumper pulled New York within 58-55, Anthony was called for a technical on the play for arguing a foul call.

Memphis then went on an elongated 19-1 run in which Rasheed Wallace was also called for a technical and J.R. Smith was whistled for a flagrant foul.

Tony Allen's three-point play gave the hosts a commanding 77-56 advantage midway through the third before they held an 85-67 edge heading into the fourth.

A 16-5 Knicks swing in the final frame got them within 93-85, but Randolph's bucket and Gay's triple on Memphis' next trips up the floor gave it a 98-85 edge with 3:13 left.

"Very pleased with the way we executed down the stretch," Conley said.

Memphis led 29-25 after a quarter of play and took a 54-49 margin into the half.

Game Notes

Gasol was 12-of-13 from the foul line ... The Knicks shot 51.4 percent (37- of-72), while Memphis finished 48.7 percent from the field (37-of-76). Smith and the Grizzlies' Jerryd Bayless earned double technicals during a scruffle in the second.