NBA Game Summary - Memphis at Toronto

04.6.2005

Toronto, ON (Basketball News) - Pau Gasol finished with 26 points and nine rebounds and Bonzi Wells added 21 points and nine boards as the Memphis Grizzlies rolled to a 104-74 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

Shane Battier posted 16 points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won three of their last four games. Memphis is currently eighth in the Western Conference playoff race and trails Denver by one game for seventh. The Nuggets picked up a win in New Orleans on Wednesday.

"We are trying to stay strong in this race," said Gasol. "We have a tough schedule coming up, we just came out strong and we tried to get a lead. That’s pretty much what we did and that helped our confidence."

Lorenzen Wright also notched 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Jalen Rose netted 19 points and Chris Bosh chipped in 15 points and 10 boards for the Raptors, who have dropped two straight and six of their last eight games. Morris Peterson recorded 13 points in the setback.

"We didn’t have any passion or energy," said Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell. "It was probably the toughest loss we’ve had all year. We didn’t compete."

The Grizzlies jumped out to a quick start and led 15-7 after Gasol’s layup with 7:48 remaining. Toronto cut the deficit to 15-11 moments later, but Memphis wasn’t fazed and wound up with a 32-19 cushion after one quarter of play.

Memphis then opened the second quarter with a 20-5 explosion to grab a 52-24 advantage. Wells and Earl Watson scored six points apiece in the stretch for the Grizzlies. The cushion would get as large as 30 points on a few occasions in the second quarter, with the last time coming after Jason Williams’ basket made it 60-30 with 1:15 left in the half.

The Grizzlies held a 60-32 advantage at halftime after shooting 58 percent over the first two quarters. Battier led Memphis with 13 points, while Bosh paced the Raptors with 11.

The lead would grow as large as 37 points late in the third quarter after Gasol’s free throws made it 81-44. Memphis carried an 87-54 lead into the final quarter and cruised to the victory.

The loss was the worst for Toronto since it was pounded by Chicago, 123-86, on February 19, 1998. That game was played at SkyDome...Toronto forward Donyell Marshall left the game in the second quarter with a strained right Achilles and did not return...The Grizzlies shot 55 percent in the game, while the Raptors made 35 percent of their shots.

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