ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Eddie Jones had five 3-pointers and scored 25 points and Pau Gasol had 22 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 94-85 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Steve Francis had 22 points for the Magic (0-2), who have lost both game at home, while Dwight Howard fought through four trouble to score 16.
The Grizzlies (1-1) took control in the middle of the fourth quarter after Orlando had gotten within 72-70 on two free throws by Kelvin Cato. Gasol hit consecutive jump shots and Jones made a 3 and Memphis gradually pulled away.
Neither team could sustain an offensive run in the first half that ended with Memphis in front 43-40.
The Magic hit seven of their first eight shots from the field, but struggled after that. Francis had 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and was the only Orlando player in double figures at halftime.
Shane Battier sparked an 11-2 run that gave Memphis a 65-56 lead. The forward started the rally with a three-point play and finished it with two free throws after he received an inadvertent elbow to the top of his head from Cato on a drive to the basket.
Battier pump-faked Cato into the air, then jumped right into the Magic center’s elbow trying to get a shot off. He left the game immediately after shooting the free throws and received eight stitches to close the wound.
AP-ES-11-04-05 2151EST
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