MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The defending NBA champion?Cavaliers?left an average of almost 71 points per game back in Cleveland.The result was their lowest-scoring output of the season and a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.With stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love resting in Ohio, the Grizzlies built an early lead, then extended it to 15 in the first half and 25 in the fourth quarter, before coasting to a 93-85 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.Its the NBA and some guys are going to rest and some guys are not, said Memphis guard Troy Daniels, who led the Grizzlies with 20 points. I think we play to win each and every game, no matter whos playing.Marc Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Tony Allen finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals, as Memphis won for the seventh time in eight games. The only loss during that stretch was a 103-86 defeat on Tuesday night in Cleveland.With Clevelands top three scorers not on the one-day trip, the Cavaliers managed only nine 3-pointers -- matching their fewest in a game this season.James Jones made three shots from outside the arc and led Cleveland with 15 points. Cavaliers rookie Kay Felder scored a season-high 14 in 23 minutes.I know Coach [Tyronn] Lue said plenty of times -- and we have said the same -- at the end of the day, we are here to win, Jones said. And we are going to do everything we need to put ourselves in a position to be as good as we can be when it really matters in the postseason.The Grizzlies took advantage of the missing Cavaliers and carried a 47-36 advantage into the break.The Cavaliers opened the second half with nine straight points, but the Grizzlies continued to connect from beyond the arc. By the end of the third quarter, Memphis was 11-of-17 from long distance and had a 74-53 lead.TIP-INSCavaliers: Clevelands 16 points were the teams fewest in a first quarter this season. ... Mike Dunleavy made his second start of the season and Channing Frye his first. ... Jones, who entered 11-of-14 from 3-point range, hit his first two 3s before finishing 3 of 5. ... J.R. Smith had eight points without a 3-pointer, leaving him two 3s short of passing Craig Ehlo for eighth place in franchise history.Grizzlies: Gasol had his 12th game with multiple 3s. ... Memphis made 12 3-pointers, reaching double figures in the category for the ninth time this season. ... Memphis is 7-0 on the second night of a back-to-back.NOT REALLY THAT CLOSEThe final score made the game appear closer than it was because Cleveland scored the final eight points. That was the only time the Cavaliers were within single digits since about three minutes left in the third quarter.NO REST FOR THOMPSONWhile the Big Three sat out for the Cavaliers, center Tristan Thompson played in his 394th consecutive game -- the longest current streak in the NBA. I know the streak is important, Lue said before the game. Its a great streak to be a part of when youre durable and ready to play every single night.FOCUS ON LeBRONSome fans in Memphis were disappointed that the Cavaliers left James, Irving and Love at home -- especially because it was Clevelands only trip to Memphis this season. Some paid hundreds of dollars to see James in particular. One youngster held up a sign that read: LeBron. Thanks for ruining my Christmas!Lue understood.You know, guys sit their guys every night, the Cleveland coach said. But when the Cavaliers do it or LeBron does it, its something different. I understand too, because these people were waiting to see LeBron play.ALWAYS READYLue said he never had to worry about a night off for rest in his career. I didnt play a lot anyway, he said, so I wanted to get out there. I didnt care if I had no legs or not.UP NEXTCavaliers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.Grizzlies: Continue an eight-game stretch that includes seven at home when they face the?Sacramento Kings?on Friday night. It will mark the Memphis return of former Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger.Cheap Authentic Jerseys . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Football Jerseys Outlet . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Clearance NFL Shop . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15.CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Lovie Smith has made no secret that Illinois defense was the strength of the team.On Saturday, the Illini proved him right, rolling up six sacks and pulling in a pair of decisive early interceptions in a 52-3 win over Murray State.Quarterback KD Humphries threw the two interceptions on the Racers first two drives, and both led to Wes Lunt touchdown passes and an early 14-0 Illini (1-0) lead.Its critical, its (a) winning edge, said Smith, who was coaching his first game at Illinois and first game as a college head coach. A lot of guys talk about it, but our guys believe in it, and thats the first step: to get people to buy into it.Illinois crushed the Racers run game, limiting Murray State to -10 yards on 26 carries.Murray State coach Mitch Stewart said he did not believe his team was overwhelmed by the idea of playing a Big Ten school, or facing a coaching staff led by a coach who led the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.I forgot my phone before the game, I was going to get a selfie with (Smith), Stewart joked.With Illinois defense keeping Murray State (0-1) in check, Illini quarterback Wes Lunt threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns heading to the bench in the third quarter.Kendrick Foster also ran for a pair of 56-yard touchdowns for Illinois. He carried the ball just four times for 118 yards.A year ago the Illini had just seen coach Tim Beckman fired, and Smith became their third coach in less than a year after Beckman-replacement Bill Cubit was fired.Smith said the win, no matter the opponent, meant a lot to the team .Were going to enjoy wins, period, no matter who its against, Smith said. But we realize its one, and tomorrow well be right back at it.THE TAKEAWAYMURRAY STATE: Stewart talked before the game about his hope that his team would not give in to nerves. Early, the Racers looked a little overwhelmed with dropped passes, stumbles by receivers and Humphries dangerous throws, including the two first quarter interceptions. In addition to pressure from Illinois, Humphries early struggles may have reflected that, Stewart said.His footwork was awful back there. I think he was just antsy, Stewart said.ILLINOIS: Illinois showed it can force turnovers, as Smith preaches, and turn them into points. And its clear the Illini have some big-play capaability.dddddddddddd But even with 287 rushing yards, Illinois never really opened the holes in the Murray State defense Smith has said he wants to see for starting tailback KeShawn Vaughn. The sophomore finished with 49 yards on 17 carries. And tougher opposition is on the way in North Carolina and Western Michigan before the Big Ten opener against Nebraska.FOSTERS CHOICETwo days after Illinois season-ending loss to Northwestern last November, Foster announced on Twitter that he planned to leave Illinois in search of more playing time. The redshirt junior later reversed course.Foster is the No. 2 running back on the Illini roster, but he had a career day Saturday. After his second long touchdown, he knelt on one knee.I was just so thankful. Im just finally getting the opportunity to display my talent and show what Peoria, Illinois, produces, the 5-9 back said.KEY NUMBERSMURRAY STATE: Those two early interceptions were Murray States only turnovers of the day, but they were big. Safety Julian Hylton intercepted Humphries less than a minute into the game, setting up a 5-yard Lunt scoring pass to Malik Turner. The Racers second possession ended with a Humphries interception by the other Illini safety, Taylor Barton. That pick was followed by a 68-yard Lunt-to-Turner strike and a 14-0 lead. The pass was Lunts longest college touchdown.ILLINOIS: Smith says linebacker Hardy Nickerson, the son of defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson, is the quarterback of his defense. And the younger Nickerson looked the part Saturday. He had 11 tackles, a sack and one tackle for loss.INJURY REPORTIllinois starting center Joe Spencer missed the game with an unspecified injury. Smith declined to talk about it in detail but said its not a long-term injury.UP NEXTMURRAY STATE: The Racers open their home schedule against Missouri State on Saturday.ILLINOIS: Illinois faces a tough test and its first Top 25 opponent of the season when North Carolina visits Champaign on Saturday. The Tar Heels handled the Illini last season in Chapel Hill, 48-14.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAPAssociated Press college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org/ ' ' '
