Pro Sports

Raptors use 4th-quarter surge to beat Grizzlies 116-107

Posted December 08, 2017 6:00 am

By CLAY BAILEY

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby, center left, and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) fall to the court as Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, from left, Grizzlies guard Ben McLemore, and Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (42) move for the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points, Serge Ibaka matched his season high with 21 and the Toronto Raptors pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-107 on Friday night.

Kyle Lowry added 16 points and eight assists, and Fred VanVleet had 12 points to help the Raptors win their fifth straight.

Tyreke Evans led the Grizzlies with 27 points, Marc Gasol had 20, and Chandler Parsons 15. Memphis lost for the 13th time in its last 14.

The Raptors outscored Memphis 24-14 in the fourth after the Grizzlies took a 93-92 lead into the quarter. The Grizzlies committed five of their 17 turnovers on the night in the fourth, helping Toronto with the closing rally.

Memphis relied on accurate shooting early, including outside the arc, to build a 17-point lead in the first half. The Grizzlies were connecting at a 56 percent clip by halftime, including hitting 6 of 13 from outside the arc.

But the Raptors were benefitting from the 3-point shooting of Ibaka, who missed only one of his five shots from distance in the first half. That gave him 18 at the break.

Still, Memphis managed to hold on to a 62-57 lead at intermission.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Have scored at least 100 points in 11 straight games. ... C.J. Miles missed all four of his shots from outside the arc, ending his string of 11 straight games with a 3-pointer. ... Ibaka has at least one block in the last 12 games. ...Toronto has won seven of the last eight in the series.

Grizzlies: Memphis announced Friday that the team has hired Greg Buckner as an assistant coach. Buckner, who finished his 10-year NBA career in 2009 with the Grizzlies, fills the vacant spot on the staff that resulted from interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff taking over for David Fizdale, who was fired Nov. 27. ... The Raptors are one of only two NBA teams over which the Grizzlies have an all-time, better-then-.500 record. The Washington Wizards are the other. ... Memphis is 0-8 against the Eastern Conference.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Continue a four-game trip, traveling to Sacramento to face the Kings on Sunday.

Grizzlies: Enjoy a home back-to-back, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

___

For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) controls the ball between Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) and guard Fred VanVleet (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans (12) drives in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) dunks the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) controls the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guards Mario Chalmers (6) and Andrew Harrison (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison, top, and Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby, bottom, struggle for control of a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33), forward Dillon Brooks, top left, and guard Andrew Harrison, bottom left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Basketball Content Providers NBA Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.