Grizzlies Beat Bulls, NBA Roundup

CHICAGO -- During halftime, Memphis Grizzlies coaches showed tape that revealed Marc Gasol was repeatedly open near the foul line. To take advantage, all they needed was to get him the ball and for him to shoot. Gasol did and it helped the Grizzlies beat brother Pau Gasol and the Chicago Bulls 101-91 on Monday night.

Marc Gasol scored 15 of his 23 points during the third quarter, and was 10 of 16 from the field and Memphis moved to two games ahead of idle Houston for the Southwest Division lead. The Grizzlies padded their lead thanks in part to the younger Gasol brother, who had only four points after intermission.

Wizards 95, Hornets 69

Road games have been a problem for the Washington Wizards over the past six weeks, and it's cost them badly in the NBA standings. That's why their 95-69 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday was so important, coming against a team that had been playing well. Marcin Gortat scored 20 points, Bradley Beal added 14 and Kevin Seraphin 12 for Washington, which snapped a nine-game road losing streak.

Hawks 130, Kings 105

he Hawks gave Kyle Korver the weekend off, hoping it would help him break out of his shooting slump. Boy, did it ever. And the rest of the team came along for the ride. Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points as Atlanta bounced back from a rare loss by becoming the first NBA team to 50 wins, scoring a season high in routing the Sacramento Kings 130-105 on Monday night. Korver went 6-of-8 from 3-point range, and the Hawks set a franchise record by going 20-of-36, breaking the mark of 19 set against Dallas on Dec. 17, 1996.

Celtics 100, Heat 90

Isaiah Thomas was in a considerable amount of postgame pain. He made the Miami Heat do some hurting as well. Thomas scored 25 points off the bench -- one more than all of Miami's reserves combined -- and the Boston Celtics dealt the Heat's playoff chances a blow with a 100-90 victory on Monday night. Brandon Bass added 14, Luigi Datome scored 13 and Kelly Olynyk finished with 10 for Boston. Olynyk also was the recipient of a two-handed shove from Miami center Hassan Whiteside, who lost his composure midway through the third quarter and got ejected for the second time in his last four outings.

Pelicans 114, Bucks 103

Anthony Davis said he's trying not to do anything outside his comfort zone as he works to improve his game. He looked comfortable -- and dominant -- doing everything Monday night. Davis poured in 43 points, tying a career high, while pulling down 10 boards and dishing out six assists in helping the New Orleans Pelicans pull away for a 114-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Nuggets 106, Knicks 78

An increased tempo has the Denver Nuggets running and smiling after a dismal six-week stretch. Kenneth Faried had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Nuggets routed the New York Knicks 106-78 on Monday night. Wilson Chandler had 17 points before leaving with a sore left knee and Will Barton also scored 17 for the Nuggets, who enjoyed their second-largest margin in a win this season. The Nuggets continued an offensive revival under interim coach Melvin Hunt. They are 3-2 after losing 18 of 20, costing Brian Shaw his job last week. Under Hunt, they have scored 100 or more points in all five games.

Warriors 98, Suns 80

Make it 50 wins and counting for the Splash Brothers and Co. Stephen Curry scored 25 of his 36 points in the second half and the Golden State Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns 98-80 on Monday night for their 50th victory of the season. Curry's Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, added 25 for the Warriors, who at 50-12 have the NBA's best record, a half-game better than Atlanta.

Clippers 89, Timberwolves 76

Chris Paul could barely get up and down the court without limping on his injured knee, let alone get to the rim. He could only play a supporting role in the Clippers' latest win as a playmaker -- and it turns out CP3 is pretty good at that. J.J. Redick scored 26 points, DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 17 rebounds, and injury-depleted Los Angeles snapped a two-game skid with an 89-76 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

Monday, March 9 Scoreboard

Washington 95, Charlotte 69

Atlanta 130, Sacramento 105

Boston 100, Miami 90

Memphis 101, Chicago 91

New Orleans 114, Milwaukee 103

Denver 106, New York 78

Golden State 98, Phoenix 80

LA Clippers 89, Minnesota 76

Tuesday, March 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Orlando at Indiana, 6 p.m.

New Orleans at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

New York at Utah, 8 p.m.

Detroit at LA Lakers, 9:30 p.m.