NBA Game Summary - New Jersey at Memphis

12.17.2004

Memphis, TN (Basketball News) - Jason Williams finished with 27 points and six assists to lead Memphis to an 89-84 win over New Jersey at FedEx Forum.

Pau Gasol contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and pulled down 11 boards for the Nets, who have lost two straight. Brian Scalabrine posted a career-high 21 points along with nine rebounds.

"The guys gave a tremendous effort," said New Jersey head coach Lawrence Frank. "But we just fell short."

Before the game, New Jersey acquired All-Star swingman Vince Carter in a trade with Toronto. The Nets gave up center Alonzo Mourning, forward Eric Williams, center/forward Aaron Williams and two conditional first-round draft picks.

"We may be shorthanded for a while," Frank said. "So we just need to keep on fighting."

James Posey registered 13 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, which used an 11-2 run to snap a 64-64 tie. Williams drained consecutive three-pointers to put the team ahead 75-66 with 5:30 to play.

New Jersey cut its deficit to 85-84 on a dunk by Jefferson with 16 seconds remaining. However, Posey hit four foul shots in the final 12 seconds to secure the win for the Grizzlies.

Midway through the first quarter, New Jersey snapped a 9-9 tie with an 11-3 surge. Scalabrine hit a jumper with less than three minutes to go in the first to put the Nets ahead 20-12.

The Grizzlies got within 20-15 at the end of the quarter.

Down 22-17 early in the second quarter, Memphis went on a 16-9 surge. A basket by Gasol put them ahead 33-31 midway through the second.

Memphis went back ahead on a dunk by Mike Miller with three seconds to go in the second quarter and led 37-35 at halftime.

Scalabrine’s basket early in the third quarter put the Nets ahead 45-40, but the Grizzlies ended the third strong. A bucket by Ryan Humphrey with 1:02 to play in the quarter staked them to a 62-55 lead.

Jefferson started the fourth quarter with seven consecutive points for New Jersey. His three-pointer 1:54 into the fourth forged a 62-62 tie.

Miller notched 12 points for the Grizzlies, who improved to 7-7 at home this season...Jason Kidd notched 17 points and eight assists for the Nets, who fell to 2-8 on the road...Memphis has won three straight over New Jersey.

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