ATLANTA (AP) - Rudy Gay scored 21 points to lead five Memphis players in double figures and the Grizzlies blew out the listless Atlanta Hawks 96-77 Thursday night.
Memphis pulled away late in the first half, closing on an 18-7 run that gave the Grizzlies a 10-point lead at the break. They totally blew it open in the third quarter after Atlanta missed its first seven shots and turned it over three times.
The Hawks were coming off a 4-1 road trip that left them tied with Miami for the Southeast Division lead. But they looked exhausted in their return to Philips Arena, putting up ugly jumpers, playing pedestrian defense and struggling just to hang on to the ball.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with 11 points.
