The Sixers overcame 31 points from Mike Conley and 30 points from Marc Gasol, who both set career highs. Gasol added 13 rebounds, while Conley had nine assists. O.J. Mayo and Quinton Ross each had 11 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost nine of their last 10.
Memphis played the second half without Rudy Gay, who was poked in the right eye in the first half.
Both teams shot well overall, with Memphis connecting on 56 percent, while the Sixers converted 50 percent of their shots. The game was close throughout with 19 ties and 15 lead changes, and neither team held a double-digit lead.
Both teams hurt themselves with poor free-throw shooting as Memphis was 14-of-21 and Philadelphia was 19-of-30.
Conley hit his first four shots as the Grizzlies opened at 69 percent shooting, but that wasn't enough to overcome a porous defensive effort.
The Sixers repeatedly got to the rim for easy baskets, and the Grizzlies were sloppy on offense. Representative of the poor execution, Memphis guard Marko Jaric was calling a play out front, and Williams stole the ball cleanly from him and ran the floor for a fastbreak basket. On Philadelphia's next possession, Ratliff scored from 7 feet out as Darko Milicic's defense amounted to standing with his back to Ratliff and his arms extended in the air.
Memphis already had 10 turnovers before the midway point of the second period, helping Philadelphia to a nine-point lead. Memphis would have a dozen miscues before intermission, and end the night with 18 - compared to nine for the Sixers.
Conley was able to keep Memphis in the game as he had already matched his season high with 18 points in the first half, hitting eight of his 10 shots, carrying Memphis to a 55-51 halftime lead.
Neither team could break out to a big lead in the third period, and they were tied at 79 entering the fourth. Young had eight in the third quarter, and both teams continued to shoot well.
Notes: Young played for Mitchell High in Memphis before attending Georgia Tech. ... Conley was back in the lineup after breaking a front tooth when he caught an elbow from Baron Davis in Wednesday's win over the Clippers. Conley said before the game that he will wear a mouthpiece. ... Memphis coach Lionel Hollins played two-plus seasons for the Sixers from 1979-1982. ... The Grizzlies were short-handed after halftime. In addition to Gay's eye injury, Jaric sprained his right ankle and did not return. ... Officials reviewed a basket by Conley in the third quarter and the shot, originally ruled a 2, was changed to a 3-pointer.
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