Down by 38, Memphis makes Atlanta sweat a little

The Atlanta Hawks couldn't coast home against the Memphis Grizzlies despite holding a 38-point lead in the third quarter.

The visiting Hawks had to refire their offense in the fourth quarter Monday night to turn back a late Memphis rally and defeat the Grizzlies 116-99. Josh Smith had 26 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the Hawks, who had six players in double figures.

When the Hawks built a 101-63 advantage late in the third quarter, they seemed to be cruising to the victory. However, Memphis closed with a 9-2 run and then opened the fourth with 13 consecutive points, part of a 23-4 run to start the period.

The rally made the game more interesting, and forced Atlanta to put its starters back in the game.

"It bit us tonight," Joe Johnson said of the reserves' play. "It didn't really hurt us, and we put up the win, but it's something that shouldn't happen in this league. You're up 38, 40 points ... and you blow that? That's unheard of."

Johnson and Al Horford led Atlanta with 19 points each. The Hawks are 3 games ahead of New Jersey and Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight games remaining for all three teams.

Raptors 104, Bobcats 100: Chris Bosh scored 32 points and Toronto remained alone in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a win over host Charlotte. Bosh hit 13 of 16 free throws and added 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Pacers 105, Heat 85: Jermaine O'Neal got off to a rough start in his return after sitting out for more than two months with a knee injury.

He was fine the rest of the game. He scored 9 points in 18 minutes as Indiana beat visiting Miami.

Jazz 129, Wizards 87: C.J. Miles scored a career-high 29 points, and host Utah set a team record with 15 3-pointers in a rout of short-handed Washington.

Deron Williams had 12 points and 16 assists, despite resting most of the fourth quarter, and Mehmet Okur returned from a stomach virus with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.