LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Mike Conley thinks the Memphis Grizzlies are atop the NBA standings because theyve been consistent and determined each night, no matter whether theyre playing title contenders or the Los Angeles Lakers.The Grizzlies needed every bit of that focus to hold off those 15th-place Lakers, who fell a few minutes shy of an unlikely win.Marc Gasol had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Conley added 19 points and the Grizzlies beat Los Angeles 99-93 Wednesday night for their seventh victory in eight games.Zach Randolph scored 16 for the Grizzlies, who improved to 13-2 and kept pace with Toronto atop the overall standings. But Memphis barely withstood a strong effort from Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, who kept it close throughout a tense fourth quarter.It says a lot about our focus early this season, Conley said. Thats all we want to do, is to come out focused for the first couple of months of the season, set a good standard for ourselves, and have to just hold ourselves accountable and try to get better.Coming off back-to-back 30-point games, Gasol scored 16 points in the second half, including 12 in the third quarter while the Grizzlies moved ahead. Gasol saw a familiar pattern in the final minutes for Memphis.We got more stops, got a little more physical with each possession, Gasol said. Put more pressure on them, everything we should have done all night. Its never perfect, but you aim for perfection.Bryant scored 22 points for the Lakers, who have lost seven of nine. Los Angeles dropped to 1-7 at Staples Center after missing several chances to seize control down the stretch. The Lakers have lost six games by seven points or fewer.Its just as frustrating no matter how many times we lost by seven points or less, Bryant said. I mean, its not like we have levels of frustration. Its either all or nothing. Weve had some opportunities against some of the top teams in the West to win, and we just let it get away from us.The NBAs worst defensive team held the Grizzlies to six field goals in the fourth, and the Lakers trailed 97-93 after Jeremy Lins free throws with 1:41 left. But Los Angeles offence flopped down the stretch, capped by Bryants brutal turnover with 16 seconds left.The Lakers opened with one of their better halves of the season, and they did it without much help from Bryant, who took his first shot and scored his first points about three minutes before halftime.___TIP-INSGrizzlies: Memphis went 5 for 22 on 3-pointers. ... The Grizzlies beat the Lakers in Memphis on Nov. 11. ... Compton native Tayshaun Prince had two points in 9 minutes.Lakers: They tied their season high with nine blocked shots, including three by Ed Davis — two on the same Memphis possession early. ... Ronnie Price had 11 points and five assists in a reserve role, providing a notable spark during his 18 minutes. ... Carlos Boozer returned after missing one game with a strained left shoulder.ENCOURAGING SIGNSLin sees hope in the Lakers latest failure to execute down the stretch: If you learn from them, I dont see them as wasted opportunities. ... There are going to be rough times, and as long as we learn, which I think we really are doing, I think well be able to use these losses and turn them into something better.EARL ON THE WAY?Although the Lakers havent formally announced theyre bringing back Earl Clark, the forward posted a photo of himself in his Lakers jersey on Instagram. With Xavier Henrys torn Achilles tendon on Monday, Los Angeles already has lost three players to season-ending injuries, and Clark had the best season of his five-year NBA career with the Lakers in 2012-13. Clark went to training camp with Memphis, but was waived last month.UP NEXTGrizzlies: At Portland on Friday.Lakers: Host Minnesota on Friday. Cheap Spud Webb Jersey . A receiver doesnt make the catch on a passing play and instantly motions to the ref – and everybody else – for a pass interference flag. Cheap Mike Bibby Jersey . The San Angelo, Texas product, who was a high school and college quarterback sensation in the Lone Star State, will start his first CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4) on Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the leagues top team, the Calgary Stampeders (11-2). http://www.cheaphawksjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-miles-plumlee-jersey .J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. Cheap Hawks Jerseys . Rajne Soderberg, the director of the Stockholm Diamond League event, said in an email Friday that the ban still holds. Euromeetings, the organization representing Europes top track events, "will continue to recommend that members do not invite athletes who we believe cause disrepute to our meetings and our sport. Cheap Vince Carter Jersey .TV Series: Duck Dynasty.NEW YORK -- Faster was better for Daisuke Matsuzaka. In a turn-back-the-clock performance, Dice-K allowed two hits over seven innings and the New York Mets got back-to-back homers from Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda to beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Saturday night for a doubleheader split. "I think in general all my pitches are improving," Matsuzaka said through a translator before acknowledging he made an effort to pick up his pace on the mound. "Trying not to give the batter an opportunity to think about whats going on or to analyze the situation." In the opener, Donovan Solano exacted some payback after he was hit by two pitches, launching a home run and making two terrific defensive plays that sent Henderson Alvarez and the Marlins to a 3-0 victory. Matsuzaka (1-3) plunked Placido Polanco twice in the nightcap, but other than that the Japanese right-hander was in complete control en route to his first major league win in more than a year. "Honestly, hes really easy to work with," catcher Anthony Recker said. "His location tonight was right on point." Pitching one day after his 33rd birthday, Matsuzaka suddenly was a model of efficiency. Working much quicker than before, he threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of 26 batters and needed only 73 pitches to get through six innings. Coming into the game, the former Red Sox star was averaging 20.6 pitches per inning -- second-most in the majors -- while racking up an 8.00 ERA over four starts with the Mets. His snail-slow pace annoyed opponents and fans alike. "Obviously, hes got enough experience to know what it takes to pitch here, but hed spent most of the year in the minor leagues and I think he was trying to nibble," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He was just off the plate, he was using a lot of pitches and a lot of 3-2 counts, and therefore every hitter was seeing every pitch. And now theyre not." The only hits Matsuzaka gave up were Justin Ruggianos 17th homer in the fourth and Adeiny Hechavarrias two-out single in the seventh. After a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen, Matsuzaka threw a called third strike past Rob Brantly with runners at the corners. When the Marlins opened the eighth with a pinch hitter, Matsuzaka walked off to a warm ovation and tipped his cap to the few fans remaining. It was his first big league win since Aug. 27, 2012, with Boston against Kansas City. He entered 1-10 in his past 16 major league starts. New York signed Matsuzaka last month to fill a hole in its injury-depleted rotation. He spent most of the season in Clevelands farm system.dddddddddddd Pedro Feliciano and Vic Black combined on a one-hit eighth. LaTroy Hawkins got three outs for his 10th save. Murphy and Duda homered to start the third against Jacob Turner (3-7), who fell to 0-6 in his last 11 starts. Duda also hit a three-run shot Friday night that put the Mets ahead to stay. "That was probably the best Ive thrown the ball in a while," Turner said. Murphy singled in the first and stole second before Wilmer Flores snapped a 1-for-26 slide with an RBI single. Logan Morrison drove in two runs during the first game, one on a line drive off Frank Franciscos right hand that knocked the oft-injured reliever out of the game. "It swelled up pretty fast and pretty big," Collins said. Francisco left in obvious pain and was sent for X-rays. The team said he had a bruised hand. The right-hander had been out all season following elbow surgery until he was activated last weekend. "I thought it was broke for sure," Francisco said. "Just hope that it goes away soon and Ill be able to throw as soon as possible." Alvarez (4-4) pitched four-hit ball over seven innings for his second win against the Mets this year. The defeat ensured New Yorks fifth straight losing season since Citi Field opened. Steve Cishek struck out three in the ninth for his 30th save in 32 attempts. He has converted 25 in a row. Carlos Torres (3-5) hit Solano with pitches in his first two plate appearances, the first one near his wrist and the next time on the left shoulder. Solano looked pretty irritated by the second one, but catcher Travis dArnaud and plate umpire Tim Welke quickly stepped in front of him and there was no trouble. "Part of the game," Solano said. He got the best sort of revenge with a leadoff homer against Torres in the sixth to make it 2-0. The second baseman also robbed Omar Quintanilla twice, making a diving play to thwart a fifth-inning rally and a sliding stop to save a run in the seventh. "Long days with doubleheaders, you need somebody to step up and be the hero. And today Alvarez and Solano gave us a big lift," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. Torres struck out a career-high eight in six innings and gave up only three hits. Still, he lost his third consecutive start. The traditional doubleheader was scheduled to make up a June 7 rainout. NOTES: Mets reliever Jeurys Familia was activated from the DL. ... Alvarez has allowed a major league-low one home run in 14 starts this season. 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