Gasol Leads Grizzlies as Suns Fade at Finish

The Phoenix Suns went from bad to much, much worse.

On the brink of ending a four-game losing streak, the Suns couldn’t score in the final three minutes, blew a seven-point lead, and lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, 102-96, Thursday night at Phoenix.

Spanish rookie Pau Gasol scored a career-high 31 points and blocked five shots for the Grizzlies, who finished with a 19-4 run, including the game’s final 13 points.

“It just fell apart on us,” the Suns’ Shawn Marion said.

Stromile Swift had 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Suns for only the second time in 18 tries and only the second time at America West Arena.

Phoenix led, 96-89, after Stephon Marbury made one of two free throws with 3:26 to play, but the Suns failed to score on their last nine possessions, going 0 for 9 from the field with a turnover.

Gasol and fellow rookie Shane Battier each scored six in the final 13-0 run.

Gasol was 12-for-20 from the field.

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Dallas 111, New York 89--Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and had 13 rebounds and Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists, leading the Mavericks at Dallas.

Nash scored or assisted on Dallas’ first 25 points, giving the Mavericks an early nine-point lead as they avenged a loss at Madison Square Garden a week ago that ended their 10-game winning streak.

Kurt Thomas, a Dallas native and former Maverick, scored a season-high 21 points.

Portland 92, Miami 85--Damon Stoudamire scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and helped rally the Trail Blazers at Miami.

Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells each scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers, who overcame a 17-point deficit despite shooting only 39% from the floor.

Miami, which led 55-44 at halftime, scored only 30 points in the second half.

Utah 83, Houston 79--Karl Malone had 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Jazz won at Utah, extending its home winning streak over the Rockets to 10 games.

Steve Francis scored 27 points for Houston before being ejected early in the third quarter.

Cuttino Mobley had 19 points for the Rockets.

Denver 96, Cleveland 91--Raef LaFrentz had 29 points, 10 rebounds and a key defensive steal, and Nick Van Exel had 26 points and 11 assists at Denver as the Nuggets stopped a five-game losing streak.

Lamond Murray scored 17 points, and Andre Miller had 15 points for the Cavaliers, who lost their fourth consecutive and eighth in 11 games.