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Tickets at Ticket Master
Spain's Pau Gasol scored six of his 17 points in the final five minutes as Memphis beat struggling Phoenix 97-92 to move 10 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history.
Gasol's dunk snapped an 85-85 tie with 4:57 left and triggered an 8-0 spurt for the Grizzlies, who held the Suns scoreless for more than four minutes. A layup by Gasol made it 93-85 with two minutes remaining.
Stromile Swift also scored 17 points for the Grizzlies (32-22), which set a single-season franchise mark with their 21st home National Basketball Association win.
The return of forward Antonio McDyess, who was activated from the injured list before the game, could not prevent the Suns from losing their seventh straight.
Joe Johnson's 3-pointer pulled Phoenix within 95-92 with 10 seconds to go, but James Posey hit a pair from the line five seconds later to clinch the win. Posey led the Grizzlies with 18 points.
Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points before fouling out with 4:28 remaining for the Suns.
Spain's Pau Gasol scored six of his 17 points in the final five minutes as Memphis beat struggling Phoenix 97-92 to move 10 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history.
A fit of anger got Tracy McGrady thrown out of the game, but that didn't stop the Orlando star from becoming the second-youngest player in National Basketball Association history to reach the 10,000-point mark.
As time expired in the first half, Chris Anderson blocked a driving layup by McGrady. Furious that no foul was called, McGrady twice kicked the ball into the stands and was ejected, picking up a technical foul after each kick.
"Frustrated, man," said McGrady, who finished with 15 points after surpassing 40 points in his previous two games. "It was a lot of frustration built up. I just let it out. The whole season just built up in me."
"I was like a half-second too late," said Magic forward Juwan Howard, who tried to prevent McGrady from kicking the ball the second time. "I tried to get to Tracy. All of a sudden, he grabbed that ball and kicked it up and I said, 'Aw, man.'"
McGrady's ejection served as a spur for his teammates.
Drew Gooden scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Magic beat the Denver Nuggets 102-98.
The Magic stayed
close in the third quarter before taking control in the final period. Gooden
scored Orlando's first eight points of the fourth quarter, including a layup
that put the Magic ahead for good, 81-80, with 11:28 left. His short jumper
made it 87-82 with 9:25 to go.
"I was tired of losing," Gooden said. "I was upset. I just got
mad. I think I provided the energy we needed."
Orlando have now won two in a row after losing eight straight.
"If they would play with that emotion, in a state of desperation, that team could get on a roll," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "I mean, they have great talent."
Howard had 24 points to lead the Magic, who overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to post their 11th straight home win over the Nuggets.
Rookie Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points for the Nuggets but was limited to four in the final period. His dunk pulled Denver within 93-92 with 1:05 left, but Gooden answered with a jump hook in the lane and Howard made two free throws to make it 97-92 with 29 seconds to play.
A fit of anger got Tracy McGrady thrown out of the game, but that didn't stop the Orlando star from becoming the second-youngest player in National Basketball Association history to reach the 10,000-point mark.