The Sports Xchange
Dec 15, 2017
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Guard Tyreke Evans scored 22 points and made a driving layup with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 96-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at FedExForum.
The Grizzlies (9-20) broke a five-game losing streak and won for just the second time in their last 18 games. Atlanta (6-23) has lost four in a row and six of the last seven games.
Memphis trailed by seven at the half and center Marc Gasol (13 points, six rebounds and five assists) was scoreless with six turnovers. But he put up 13 points in the third quarter and guard Andrew Harrison (10 points) went 3 of 3 from deep for a nine-point quarter. After leading by many as 12 points, the Hawks led 73-72 going into the fourth quarter.
A layup from guard Dennis Schroeder (18 points, 11 assists) gave the Hawks a 94-91 advantage with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter. But Memphis' Mario Chalmers (16 points and four steals) hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 left to tie the score 94-94.
After Evans' layup, Schroeder missed a running floater with 41 seconds left and the Hawks missed two long jumpers in the closing seconds.
Guard Kent Bazemore led Atlanta 19 points, five assists and three steals. Forward Taurean Prince finished with 17 points and Marco Belinelli had 14 points off the bench.
The Grizzlies got 12 rebounds and eight points from forward JaMychal Green.
The Hawks shot 44.7 percent from the floor and went 12 of 30 from 3-point range for 40 percent. Memphis shot 46.2 percent from the field while going 12 of 25 from distance for 48 percent.
Atlanta led 47-40 at halftime and the Grizzlies had a season-worst 14 first-half turnovers.
NOTES: Atlanta entered Friday's game ranked fourth in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage at 38.3 and fifth in steals per game with 8.6. ... Memphis PG Mike Conley is still out with a sore Achilles tendon and the Grizzlies are 2-15 when without him. ... Memphis is now 1-10 vs. Eastern Conference teams. ... The Grizzlies had a 43-34 edge in rebounds in their victory over the Hawks, but Atlanta had a 21-13 margin on fast-break points.