Gordon scores 18 as Hornets top Grizzlies 88-75

[April 16, 2012]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Eric Gordon scored 18 points and the New Orleans Hornets won for the fourth time in five games, upsetting the playoff-contending Memphis Grizzlies 88-75 on Sunday night.

Saints owner Tom Benson attended his first game since Friday's announcement that he had agreed to buy the Hornets from the NBA. He received a standing ovation, and the Hornets kept the applause coming as they pulled away in the fourth quarter from a Grizzlies squad that had won five of its previous six games.

Carl Landry had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Jason Smith had 14 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans.

Rudy Gay scored 24 points for Memphis. Marc Gasol added 11 points, but sat out the final 7:02 with what team officials described as a hyperextended left knee. He was scheduled to have further tests including an MRI.

Memphis was as close as 56-55 in the third quarter after Gay scored six straight points on a pull-up in the lane, a tough-turnaround jumper and another pull-up at the top of the key.

Rather than fold, the Hornets started pulling away for good as Landry scored four straight on a putback of his own miss and a mid-range jumper. Gustavo Ayon scored inside to give New Orleans a 62-56 lead after the third quarter, then Ayon added a short jumper and rookie Jerome Dyson added a transition layup to complete a 10-2 run that made it 66-56 early in the fourth quarter.

Memphis got as close as 66-62 after Mike Conley's free throws, but could not get any closer as Landry's double-pump driving scoop off the glass started an 11-4 Hornets run. The surge built to a crescendo when Smith found Marco Belinelli with a cross-court pass and Belinelli drained a 3 to make it 78-66 with five minutes to go.

The Hornets shot worse than 40 percent most of the game but wound up at 44 percent (32 of 73) by the end. Al-Farouq Aminu reached double-figures in scoring for a second-straight game, highlighting a 12-point night by soaring for a one-handed putback jam.

O.J. Mayo scored 11 points for Memphis, but hit only 3 of 12 shots and went 0 of 7 on 3-point attempts. Zach Randolph had 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Memphis, which had beaten Utah at home a night earlier, got sloppy in New Orleans, turning the ball over 21 times, which led to 28 Hornets points.

Although they faded late, the Grizzlies built a lead as large as 11 in the second quarter after a 14-2 run highlighted by Gilbert Arenas' two 3-pointers. Mayo capped the spurt with a fastbreak layup that made it 34-23, but Gordon responded with a 21-foot baseline jumper and the Hornets started chipping away at the Grizzlies' lead.

New Orleans shot only 31 percent in the first half (12 of 39) but was able to pull as close as 37-33 when Aminu sneaked inside for an offensive rebound and dunk shortly before halftime.

NOTES: Landry hurt his left calf in the final minutes of the game. He was not sure if the injury was serious. ... Benson sat in courtside seats and was accompanied by several top Saints officials including chief financial officer Dennis Lauscha and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. ... The Hornets are 5-2 when Gordon is in the lineup. ... The Hornets are 5-1 in their last six home games, with the only loss coming by two points against the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Memphis fell to 13-18 on the road. ... Memphis fell to 2-1 against the Hornets, and the teams meet once more this season in Memphis on Wednesday.

[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.