Rudy Gay gets 27, Grizzlies rout Lakers 104-85

[January 03, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rudy Gay scored 27 points, Zach Randolph added 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies roared away in the second half for a 104-85 victory over the lifeless Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

O.J. Mayo scored 15 points for the Grizzlies, who bounced back from two losses to wrap up their three-game road trip with a stunningly easy blowout of the two-time defending champions.

The Grizzlies made a 19-4 run in the third quarter to take a 17-point lead, and Los Angeles never threatened to get back in it despite a 21-point second half by Kobe Bryant.

Bryant scored 28 points for the Lakers, who have lost three of their last four home games -- all three by at least 16 points -- and four of six overall.

Los Angeles still leads the woeful Pacific Division by eight games, but the Lakers have looked decidedly average for most of the past two weeks. The Lakers made 20 turnovers and trailed by 26 points in the fourth quarter, eliciting loud boos from the Staples Center crowd.

Gay was outstanding despite nearly sitting out with a stomach virus, hitting two 3-pointers and punctuating his night with a steal and a dramatic dunk with 6:40 to play. Randolph went 9 for 17 in the low post to win his matchup with Pau Gasol, who had 10 points and eight rebounds.

With an ease that had the Grizzlies' bench standing in celebration for much of the second half, Memphis snapped a four-game road losing streak against the Lakers with its second win over Los Angeles in less than five weeks.

Andrew Bynum had nine points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Lakers, who couldn't stop the athletic Grizzlies in transition. Memphis scored 28 fast-break points and repeatedly beat Los Angeles down the court.

Los Angeles appeared exhausted at times during its fourth game in six days, and it's a problem that's only going to get worse. The Lakers are early in a stretch of 15 games in 25 days, and they won't get consecutive days off again until Jan. 22-23.

Memphis took a nine-point lead at halftime and then took control with a 19-4 run late in the third quarter after Bryant shot the Lakers back into it with 17 third-period points. The Grizzlies' transition game generated numerous layups, while Gay and Mike Conley hit a slew of difficult jumpers.

Bryant was visibly frustrated, slapping the back of a seat in anger when he came out of the game in the third. The Staples Center crowd agreed, booing the Lakers repeatedly in the second half.

Gay scored 10 points in the first quarter for the Grizzlies, pushing them to a first-quarter lead. Randolph scored 15 first-half points on 7-for-10 shooting, and Memphis closed the first half with a 10-2 run to take a 48-39 lead.

NOTES: Joe Smith made his Lakers debut in the final 4:36. The former No. 1 pick had sat out all seven games since the Lakers acquired him from New Jersey in a trade for Sasha Vujacic on Dec. 15. ... The teams wrap up their season series Feb. 7 in Memphis. ... Fans near courtside included Tom Petty, George Lopez, pro surfer Kelly Slater and producer Joel Silver.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

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