Speights, Gasol lead Grizzlies over Cavs

By Tom Reed

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Memphis, Tenn.

Lots of Cavaliers fans wanted to see Kyrie Irving and his sprained right shoulder in street clothes for the remainder of the season for fear of re-injury.

Four games into his return, Irving’s opponents are once again the ones worrying about damage control.

The presumptive NBA rookie of the year is shaking off the rust the way he often does defenders in the paint. The 20-year-old point guard scored 25 points Monday night in a 109-101 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies finished the game on an 11-3 run after the teams were tied, 98-98.

Recall a couple of days ago when Cavs coach Byron Scott said he might not play Irving in all of the last six games? There’s nothing porcelain about the kid. He put the Cavs on his slender shoulders through the first three quarters — on 10-of-15 shooting and contributing four assists — as Cleveland played on even terms with the Grizzlies, one of the league’s best home teams.

“That’s why we wanted him to come back, just to go out there and get his feet wet and keep accepting the challenge every single night,” Scott said. “He’s done just that, so I’m very excited about the way he’s played the last couple of games especially.”

Irving played 26 minutes through three quarters but did not see the floor again until the game’s final 4:09, with the Grizzlies leading, 98-94. He had played nearly 30 minutes in Sunday night’s loss in San Antonio.

Memphis placed six players in double figures scoring, led by Marc Gasol and Marreese Speights, who had 17 points each. Tony Allen had 13 points and set a franchise record with eight steals.