Ticket Master

Pau Gasol scored 26 points in 26 minutes to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to an 84-65 exhibition victory Friday night over the Orlando Magic.

Memphis also got 11 points from Earl Watson and 10 from Shane Battier.

Orlando was led by Juwan Howard with 11 points, and Andrew DeClercq added 10. Tracy McGrady, the Magic's leading scorer, played 24 minutes and scored 9 points.

Memphis took its biggest lead, 80-50, midway through the final period after an 11-point run powered by Watson and Gasol. Ticketmaster

Watson scored six straight during the run and Gasol added three.

Center Jake Tsakalidis made his first start for Memphis and finished with two points, two rebounds and three turnovers in 22 minutes.

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The Grizzlies got the 7-foot-2, 290-pound Tsakalidis in a trade from Phoenix on Sept. 30 after spending much of the offseason trying to find more size to add to the Memphis lineup.

The Grizzlies outscored the Magic 19-8 in the third quarter, taking a 65-45 with two minutes to go on two foul shots by rookie Dahntay Jones, who finished with eight points.

Memphis broke for intermission with a 46-38 lead, closing out the second period with two foul shots by Jones and a scoop shot by Watson. Ticketmaster

The Grizzlies trailed just twice, the last 16-15 with 4:30 left in the first quarter. Memphis went on a 12-4 run to close the period, taking a 27-20 lead on a 17-foot jumper by Watson.

Orlando's Pat Garrity was sidelined for rehabilitation of his injured right knee, while Grant Hill sat out to let his left ankle heal from an injury.

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