Rudy Gay scored 18 points and Zach Randolph had 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 102-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night at Staples Center. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Lakers, who fell to 20-4 at home this season.
The Lakers fell behind by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but then the period ended on a series of runs. The Lakers retook the lead thanks to a 15-0 lead punctuated by a Ramon Sessions three-pointer. However, Memphis immediately responded with an 8-0 run of their own. But the Lakers scored the last four points of the quarter to close to within three points. But Memphis outscored the Lakers 29-26 in the final period.
Andrew Bynum scored 30 for the Lakers, but had a season-low four rebounds. Kobe Bryant scored 18 points and Pau Gasol had 16 points and 14 rebounds, but the pair combined to make just 11 of 30 shots (36.7%) from the field. As a team, the Lakers shot 42.5% on the night.
Bryant left the game at the 5:45 mark of the fourth quarter with the Lakers down 14, and didn't return until 1:51 remaining, with the Lakers down nine points.
O.J. Mayo added 16 points off the bench for Memphis, who shot 51.2% on the night. The Grizzlies' bench outscored Lakers reserves 41-9.
The Lakers hit the road for a Tuesday battle in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors before returning home for a four-game homestand.
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