The Sports Xchange
Dec 11, 2017
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Guard Goran Dragic scored 19 points as the Miami Heat defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 107-82 on Monday night at FedExForum.
Memphis (8-19) dropped its fourth straight. The Grizzlies have lost 15 of their past 16 games, and their home record fell to 5-11.
The Heat (13-13) shot 56.1 percent from the floor and went 14 of 27 from 3-point range, 51.9 percent.
Miami got 17 points from guard Josh Richardson and 14 points each off the bench from center Bam Adebayo and guard Tyler Johnson. Forward James Johnson chipped in 11 points, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Wayne Ellington scored 12 points, and Dion Waiters contributed 10.
Dragic added five rebounds and five assists.
Center Marc Gasol paced Memphis with 19 points and six rebounds. Guard Andrew Harrison had 16 points, four assists and two steals. Tyreke Evans finished with 11 points, and JaMychal Green had 10.
Leading by three points at halftime, the Heat carried a 70-60 lead into the fourth quarter. Dragic scored nine points in the third. Miami led by as many as 27 points in the fourth.
Memphis shot 38.9 percent from the field while going 8 of 27 from distance, 29.6 percent.
Miami led 45-42 at halftime. Dragic, Richardson and Gasol each scored 10 points in the first half.
NOTES: The Heat played in Mexico City on Saturday, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 101-89. ... Grizzlies G Tyreke Evans has produced 20 or more points 11 times this season. He had 11 such games in the two previous seasons combined. ... With Miami's win over Memphis on Monday, coach Erik Spoelstra now has 453 victories with the Heat, one short of tying Pat Riley for the most in franchise history. ... Memphis F Chandler Parsons went into the Monday game ranked third in the NBA in 3-point field-goal percentage at .473, but he made just 1 of 5 long-range attempts against Miami.. ... Recently fired Memphis coach David Fizdale was an assistant under Spoelstra. "Had lunch with him today," Spoelstra said. "That's my brother ... Fizz is a star. He's going to get another opportunity."