MPLICATIONSAfter slipping a bit in the rankings off their first two wins, the Tigers should stay right where they are --

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies are showing a knack for pulling out close games.The Philadelphia 76ers were just too young and too short-handed to stop that trend.Marc Gasol had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Memphis finally put away the 76ers 96-91 on Tuesday night.The victory was the Grizzlies 11th straight that either went to OT or was decided by five points or fewer. Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said he hasnt determined the formula that allows the Grizzlies to escape in close encounters.All I know is that group in (the locker room) really believes in each other, and when it gets tough, they dig in, Fizdale said. They know how to rise to the occasion when it calls for it.To keep the streak going, Memphis scored the games final seven points, erasing Philadelphias lead with less than 2 minutes remaining, sending the Sixers to their eighth straight loss.We are all professionals, and we cant make excuses, said Philly forward Ersan Ilyasova, who led the Sixers with season bests of 23 points and 17 rebounds. We have no margin for error.Injuries and rest left the 76ers with only nine players dressed. But Philadelphia was scrappy enough to stay close until the closing minutes.When Dario Saric, who had 17 points, scored inside, the Sixers led 91-89 with 1:57 remaining. But Zach Randolph, who had 12 points and 14 rebounds, scored inside and Memphis made enough free throws in the closing minutes.JaMychal Green finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, including a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left to seal the Grizzlies fourth straight win and 10th in the last 13.Philadelphia committed 16 turnovers and was 13 of 26 from the foul line, contributing to the downfall.We came down with nine guys, and you are playing against a veteran, tough, playoff, hard Memphis team, Sixers coach Brett Brown said. We had a chance to win the game, and I was proud of their effort.TIP-INSSixers: Earlier Tuesday, Philadelphia announced the hiring of recently retired forward Elton Brand as player development consultant. ... Philadelphia has dropped nine straight in the series, including a 104-99 double-overtime loss on Nov. 23. ... The Sixers, who lead the league in turnovers at 17.4 a game, committed 11 in the first half.Grizzlies: Randolph played in his 1,000th career game -- 494 with the Grizzlies. ... Rookie Wade Baldwin recorded his first double-digit scoring game with 11 points. ... Memphis is 6-0 on the second night of back-to-backs.RANDOLPH RETURNSRandolph returned to the team after missing seven games following the death of his mother, Mae, on Thanksgiving Day. He received a standing ovation from the crowd when he entered the game in the first quarter. It felt great to be back, the veteran forward said. With my brothers out here and to compete. . Getting back into the mix and doing what I love.SHORT-HANDED SQUADSSixers: Were without Jerryd Bayless (left wrist soreness); Robert Covington (left knee sprain); Joel Embiid (Rest), Nerlens Noel (inflamed left knee); Jahlil Okafor (gastroenteritis), Ben Simmons (acute fracture, right foot). For the Grizzlies: G Mike Conley (back injury), G Vince Carter (right hip injury), F Chandler Parsons (left knee soreness), F Brandan Wright (left ankle) and F James Ennis (right calf injury) all were out.FUMBLED AWAYTurnover problems plagued the Sixers down the stretch, allowing Memphis to pull away. After Memphis tied the game at 91, Philadelphia committed turnovers on consecutive possessions. On the next possession, the Sixers had four misses, including three tip attempts, and didnt score the rest of the way.UP NEXTSixers: Continue their road trip, heading down the Mississippi River to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.Grizzlies: Will play the second of three home games this week on Thursday, facing the Portland Trail Blazers. Authentic Air Jordan 10 . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Air Jordan 10 For Sale . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. http://www.cheapairjordan10.com/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Air Jordan 10 Wholesale . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheap Jordan 10 For Sale . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. ATLANTA -- The halftime stats were almost comical. Clemson looked as though it was going against the scout team, not a fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school.Finally, the sort of performance everyone has been expecting from the No. 5 Tigers.Deshaun Watson threw for 304 yards, including a pair of touchdowns during a dominant first half that carried Clemson to a 26-7 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night.After sluggish wins over Auburn and Troy, and a practice-like rout of FCS school South Carolina State that meant nothing, the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 ACC) won at Georgia Tech for the first time since 2003 to set up a huge showdown with No. 3 Louisville.We came in focused that first half, Watson said. We just wanted to finish the deal.Watson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams and a 9-yarder to Jordan Leggett with just 4 seconds left before halftime to complete a stunningly lopsided showing that wasnt entirely reflected in the 23-0 lead. Wayne Gallman added a 1-yard TD run.At halftime, Clemson was up 347-22 lead in total yards and 19-3 in first downs, having run 56 plays to only 21 for the home team. Georgia Tech (3-1, 1-1) was outgained 442-124 overall.Its been a long time since weve won here, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Well take it.This was a virtual repeat of last years meeting at Clemson, where the Tigers raced to a 33-10 halftime lead on the way to a 43-24 victory. Both times, they totally dominated the line of scrimmage.Theyve done it to us two years in a row up front, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. They kicked our butts.Clemson backed off over the final two quarters, and the Yellow Jackets avoided their first home shutout since 1957 when Dedrick Mills scored on a 2-yard run with 13:21 remaining.Even when Georgia Tech came up with a big play, it wound up costing points. Lance Austin intercepted a pass in the end zone and tried to bring it out -- only to be whacked inadvertently by teammate Corey Griffin, knocking the ball loose.Austin fell on it in the end zone, but that was a safety for Clemson. It was a far cry from a prime-time game last season, when the defensive back returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play to give Georgia Tech a stunning victory of Florida State.There wouldnt be an upset on this night.THE TAKEAWAYClemson: Dont read too much into thhe sluggish showing in the second half.ddddddddddddIt was only natural that the Tigers let down a bit after dominating the first two quarters. For sure, this was just the sort of confidence-boosting performance that Clemson needed heading into their game against Louisville.Georgia Tech: After opening with three straight wins over mediocre opposition, the Yellow Jackets dont seem to have made much improvement over last years 3-9 debacle. Johnsons triple-option offense was totally manhandled and increasingly looks like a gimmick that other teams have figured out. Poor recruiting seems to have caught up with the Yellow Jackets when they face elite competition.INSIDE THE NUMBERSClemson ran more plays in the first half than Georgia Tech did in the entire game (52). Even more troubling for the Yellow Jackets, 19 of their plays failed to gain or lost yards. The Tigers finished with 82 plays.RARE CHEERSThe home crowd did get a chance to cheer a couple of times in the first half. It didnt have anything to do with the game.New athletic director Todd Stansbury , a former Georgia Tech football player whose hiring was announced earlier in the day, was introduced during the first quarter. Another alum, pro golfer Matt Kuchar, received loud applause when he came out during a break wearing his Olympic bronze medal.POLL IMPLICATIONSAfter slipping a bit in the rankings off their first two wins, the Tigers should stay right where they are -- maybe even move up a spot or two -- when the Associated Press poll comes out next week.UP NEXTClemson: When Louisville visits Death Valley on Oct. 1, it will have all the makings of a national playoff game. Assuming the Cardinals (3-0) get by Marshall on Saturday night, two unbeaten powerhouses will meet to establish the pecking order atop the ACC.Georgia Tech: No. 15 Miami (3-0) and longtime nemesis Mark Richt visit Bobby Dodd Stadium on Oct. 1. Richt is in his first season as the Hurricanes coach after 15 years at Georgia, where he went 13-2 against the Yellow Jackets.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '