Roundup: Mayo scores 26 to lift Grizzlies past Pacers
CBSSports.com wire reports
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Rookie guard O.J. Mayo scored 26 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 103-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Mayo, the third pick in the NBA Draft, shook off a shooting slump from long range to allow the Grizzlies to win their second straight preseason game. He entered the game having connected on only 2-of-14 3-point attempts. But he found his stroke against the Pacers, hitting 6-of-8.
In the third quarter, it was Mayo's shooting that allowed the Grizzlies, who trailed 53-51 at the half, to pull away. A Mayo 3-pointer from the right wing gave Memphis a 56-53 advantage early in the quarter and he added another 3 a few minutes later during a 15-4 Grizzlies run for a 68-57 lead.
Mayo added a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the quarter to give Memphis an 84-69 lead. He scored 11 of his points in third quarter and did not play in the fourth.
In addition to Mayo's contributions, the Grizzlies got production from another rookie. Marc Gasol, brother of former Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol, scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds in 35 minutes. Rudy Gay finished with 16 points.
T.J. Ford had 18 points for Indiana (1-2). Jarrett Jack and Roy Hibbert each added 17.
Memphis led 21-10 with five minutes left in the first quarter, before hitting a cold streak. The Grizzlies missed eight straight shots, and three free throws, to allow the Pacers to rally. The Pacers put together a 13-0 run at the end of the quarter, taking the lead at the buzzer on a slam by Hibbert. Full story
Hawks 88, Bobcats 87
ATLANTA -- Acie Law's dunk with 4.5 seconds left lifted the Atlanta Hawks over the Charlotte Bobcats.
Law started at point guard in place of Mike Bibby, who was out with a strained right oblique muscle. The second-year player scored 12 points.
Joe Johnson paced the Hawks (3-1) with 17 points, Josh Smith added 16 and Al Horford grabbed nine rebounds. Atlanta also got contributions from its two major offseason acquisitions; Maurice Evans had 12 points and Flip Murray 11.
Law, the No. 11 overall pick in 2007, is looking to make more of a contribution for the Hawks in his second season. He played sparingly as a rookie.
Thunder 110, Rockets 104
TULSA, Okla. -- Kevin Durant scored 20 of his 26 points in an electrifying final eight minutes, including the go-ahead basket with just over a minute to play as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets to win their first preseason game in their new home state.
Durant put back Russell Westbrook's fast-break miss with 1:03 remaining to put the Thunder up 103-102 with 1:03 remaining and then shrugged off an ankle injury to hit another jumper and stretch the lead to three.
After D.J. Strawberry hit two free throws to close the gap to one, Durant hustled back after a Westbrook turnover to block Strawberry's potential go-ahead basket.
He then hit two free throws to push it to a 107-104 edge, followed that by swatting away another shot by Aaron Brooks and finally grabbed the rebound on Brent Barry's missed jumper to set up two free throws by Nick Collison that put the game away.
