Memphis, TN – Ryan Anderson knocked down seven 3-pointers en route to a game-high 22 points off the bench, as the New Orleans Hornets took down the Memphis Grizzlies, 91-83, on Sunday at FedEx Forum.
Jason Smith followed with 16 points and Greivis Vasquez handed out 11 assists to help the Hornets halt a two-game skid.
Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol each recorded a double-double, with Randolph registering 20 points and 13 rebounds and Gasol adding 14 points and 11 boards for the Grizzlies, who had won two straight and four of their last five.
"They played their game," Gasol said of the Hornets. "We tried to play our game but they played better. They executed better and played tougher than us and they got the win."
Memphis led 68-64 heading into the fourth before Anderson opened the final frame with a 3-pointer to spark an 11-4 swing that found the Hornets holding a 75-72 edge just over three minutes in.
A Tony Allen layup with 5:08 remaining brought the Grizzlies within one, but New Orleans responded with a 12-2 run, which Vasquez capped with a three-point play to make it 89-78 with just 1:44 to play.
The Hornets were able to cruise from there, as Memphis managed just one field goal the rest of the way to allow New Orleans to escape with the victory.
"We just need to play a complete game. When we do, we play great like we did tonight," Anderson admitted. "We didn't have any lulls. We fought and did a great job tonight. We really stuck to the game plan and played great."
Neither team led by more than four in a tightly-contested first quarter that found the Hornets clinging to a 24-23 edge after 12 minutes.
New Orleans opened the second on an 8-0 sprint to build its lead to nine, but Chris Johnson answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 16-2 Memphis run that Randolph capped with a sweeping hook shot in the lane to make it 39-34 with just over four minutes left in the half.
The Hornets were able to pull within 45-43 at the break and it remained a one- possession game for the majority of the third until Memphis closed the frame on an 6-0 surge to take a 68-64 advantage heading into the fourth.
Game Notes
Memphis dropped to 17-7 at home ... The game featured 17 lead changes and 16 ties ... Memphis outscored New Orleans 42-34 in the paint ... Al-Farouq Aminu added nine points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets.
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