NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Memphis

Memphis, TN (Basketball News) - Mike Miller had 22 points and six rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies used a huge first-quarter and cruised past the Los Angeles Lakers, 102-82.

Lorenzen Wright had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies, who pulled into a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race with the Denver Nuggets.

Caron Butler had 18 points to lead the struggling Lakers, whose hopes for the postseason are all but dashed as a result of this loss. The Lakers, losers of three straight and 11 of their last 12 games overall, have fallen 8 1/2 games behind the Nuggets and Grizzlies for the final playoff spot with just nine games to play.

The game was blown wide open in the first quarter. A Kobe Bryant free throw had tied the game at seven apiece four minutes in. But the Grizzlies ended the quarter on a 25-7 run to take a 32-14 lead in the second.

The Grizzlies continued the onslaught in the second quarter. A Brian Cardinal hoop with 1:46 left gave Memphis its biggest lead, at 55-28, and the Grizzlies were up 55-32 at halftime.

Miller had 11 points and Pao Gasol and Lorenzen Wright each had 10 in the first half.

Bryant had nine first-half points to lead the Lakers, who shot just 29 percent in the first half. But Bryant had a shin injury aggravated, and did not play in the second half.

The Lakers showed some life in the third quarter. A Brian Cook three-pointer pulled Los Angeles within 71-61 with 2:35 left in the frame. But the Grizzlies rallied and took a 79-64 lead into the final 12 minutes. Memphis cruised in the fourth for the 20-point victory.