NBA: Streaking Grizzlies take bite out of RaptorsTORONTO: The Memphis Grizzlies, playing against Rudy Gay for the first time since trading their top scorer to Toronto, scored an 88-82 victory over the Raptors yesterday.

The Grizzlies (35-18) limited Gay to 13 points, one of his lowest outings since joining Toronto last month, en route to a fifth straight victory that strengthens their bid for homecourt advantage in the playoffs.

“It was a battle by both teams and eventually it became a game down to the wire,” Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins told reporters.

“We made a lot of plays, got stops, got big rebounds, made plays at the offensive end and also made just enough free throws.”

Zach Randolph had a team-high 17 points for the Grizzlies, who tightened their grip on fourth place in the NBA’s Western Conference and improved on the franchise’s best start to a season through 53 games.

Memphis took a nine-point lead into the final quarter and then had to withstand a fourth-quarter rally by the Raptors (22-33) that was not enough to give the home side their first six-game winning streak since 2009.

Alan Anderson came off the Toronto bench to score a game-high 19 points. reuters