FINALGrizzlies 120, Kings 92
MEMPHIS, Tenn., -- The Grizzlies had their way Saturday night. Every player for Memphis scored, led by forward Zach Randolph's 23 points and 12 rebounds. Randolph didn't play in the fourth quarter.
*The Kings were outscored 78-46 in the paint. Besides Randolph, Memphis had a solid showing from center Marc Gasol with 21 points. The 78 points are franchise record.
*DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Marcus Thornton was the only other King in double figures with 15 points.
*Kings coach Paul Westphal said the reason Samuel Dalembert started instead of Cousins is that Dalembert has played better than Cousins lately.
*Beno Udrih led the Kings with 24 points.
*Kings again said their turnovers (18 that led to 21 points) and defense (Grizzlies shot 54.7 percent) were the biggest issues.
THIRD QUARTERGrizzlies 89, Kings 66
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It's not often a team leads this big and hasn't made a three pointer but that's what the Grizzlies are doing.
The Grizzlies have posted back-to-back 33-point quarters. Meanwhile the Kings have gotten worse, scoring just 17 in the third. Beno Udrih (24 points) is the only Kings to have scored in double figures.
*The Kings have been outscored 64-32 in the paint. Memphis is doing that because their post tandem has been dominant. Zach Randolph has 23 points and 12 rebounds. Marc Gasol has 21 points. Memphis is shooting 54.9 percent.
*Jason Thompson left the game with a sprained right ankle with 2:24 left in the quarter and will not return. That leaves DeMarcus Cousins, Samuel Dalembert and Darnell Jackson as the only healthy bigs for the Kings.
HALFTIMEGrizzlies 56, Kings 49
MEMPHIS, Tenn., -- It was not a good defensive quarter for the Kings, who gave up 33 points and allowed the Grizzlies to make 14 of 21 shots. And to make it worse, Zach Randolph found his way in the second and is up to 15 points and nine rebounds. Samuel Dalembert didn't play most of the quarter so he'll probably draw Randolph at some point in the second half. But Marc Gasol (12 points) is also rolling so someone will have to deal with him, too.
*Apparently Donte Greene has fallen out of the rotation again. Omri Casspi played the entire first half. Casspi had four points, five rebounds and two assists so he certainly wasn't hurting the team when he was on the floor. Still with only two small forwards healthy, it was unusual that Casspi didn't get a break. I guess that means those day sof worrying about Casspi's conditioning are over.
*Beno Udirh has been the best player for the Kings on offense. He has 18 points and four assists, both game highs.
*DeMarcus Cousins has five points, a rebound and two assists in 12 minutes off the bench.
FIRST QUARTERKings 28, Grizzlies 23
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Beno Udrih (14 points, three assists) has the Kings off to a good start. He's made five of seven shots and also grabbed two rebounds.
*Speaking of starts, DeMarcus Cousins was out of the starting lineup, replaced by Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert had five points and six rebounds in the first. Cousins had a turnover in 5.9 seconds of play.
Cousins production isn't nearly as good as a reserve so it will be something to watch tonight. No reason as to why Cousins was benched. Perhaps its' defensive issues.
*The Grizzlies shot 41.7 percent in the first and played most of it without Mike Conley. He picked up two fouls in three minutes and sat out the rest of the quarter.
*Westphal stuck with his starters for a while. All played at least 11 minutes with Omri Casspi and Jermaine Taylor playing the entire quarter. It also helped that the Kings committed just three fouls.
--Jason Jones
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