Grizzlies 96, Jazz 86

MEMPHIS — Forward Zach Randolph scored 21 points and center Marc Gasol added 20 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 96-86 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies (40-27) earned their eighth consecutive home win and their fifth straight victory over Utah at FedExForum.

The Jazz (22-47) lost their sixth straight and fell to 8-28 on the road, but gave the Grizzlies a fight. Despite trailing by as many as 18 in the first half, the Jazz tied the game midway through the fourth quarter before fading.

Three Utah guards — Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke and Alec Burks — scored 16 points apiece.

Utah made a run at the Grizzlies in the third quarter. Trailing 48-32 at the half, the Jazz, behind the aggressive play of Hayward, cut the lead to 54-51 on a basket in the paint by center Enes Kanter.

The Grizzlies bounced back behind guard Tony Allen and Gasol to take an 11-point lead into the final quarter.

It didn’t hold.

Again behind Hayward, the Jazz tied the score at 84 with 5:39 to go on a steal and layup by Burks that capped an 8-0 run.

Memphis closed the game with a 12-2 run that included six points from guard Mike Conley, who finished with 18, and two baskets in the paint from Randolph, who had 11 rebounds.

The Grizzlies jumped to a 12-2 lead in opening minutes and never trailed in the first half. When the Jazz made a run behind Burke to trim the Memphis advantage to 14-9, the comeback was undone by Conley, who scored 10 straight. The points were the only ones Conley managed in the first half.

Utah briefly trimmed the deficit under double digits (37-28) midway through the second quarter before the Grizzlies pulled away behind Gasol and Randolph.

Memphis eventually extended its advantage of 18 points in the final minute of the first half when Randolph dropped in two free throws.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Jazz 46-39.

NOTES: Since returning from a wrist injury Feb. 21, Grizzlies G Tony Allen is averaging 10.1 points and shooting better than 60 6 percent. For the season, Allen is averaging 10.2 points, only the second time in his career he is producing double figures. … The Jazz are 1-11 over their past 12 games, with the only victory coming against the struggling Philadelphia 76ers. … The Grizzlies’ bench shot 9-for-21, ending its string of shooting better than 50 percent in 14 consecutive games. It was the longest such streak in the NBA since the Boston Celtics accomplished the feat in 15 straight in February-March 1986. … The Jazz did not score any fast-break points in the opening quarter, and it took nearly nine minutes into the second quarter before they converted on the run.