Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) talk on the court between plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, in Memphis, Tennessee. AP
MEMPHIS, Tennessee—The defending NBA champion Cavaliers left an average of almost 71 points per game back in Cleveland.
The result was their lowest-scoring output of the season and a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love resting in Ohio, the Grizzlies built an early lead, extended it to 15 in the first half and 25 in the fourth quarter before coasting to a 93-85 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
“It’s the NBA and some guys are going to rest and some guys are not,” said Memphis guard Troy Daniels, who led the Grizzlies with 20 points. “I think we play to win each and every game no matter who’s playing.”
Marc Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Tony Allen finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals as Memphis won for the seventh time in eight games. The only loss during that stretch was a 103-86 defeat Tuesday night in Cleveland.
With the team’s top three scorers not on the one-day trip, the Cavaliers managed only nine 3-pointers – matching their fewest in a game this season.
James Jones made three shots from outside the arc and led Cleveland with 15 points. Cavaliers rookie Kay Felder scored a season-high 14 in 23 minutes.
“I know Coach (Tyronn) Lue said plenty of times – and we have said the same – at the end of the day, we are here to win,” Jones said. “And we are going to do everything we need to put ourselves in a position to be as good as we can be when it really matters in the postseason.”
Memphis took advantage of the missing Cavaliers and carried a 47-36 advantage into the break.
The Cavaliers opened the second half with nine straight points, but the Grizzlies continued to connect from beyond the arc. By the end of the third quarter, Memphis was 11 of 17 from long distance and had a 74-53 lead.
Even though there were times Cleveland chipped into the margin in the fourth, it was never enough for Memphis coach David Fizdale to put Gasol back in the game.