LOS ANGELES, 12 November 2003 — Sloppy play by the Los Angeles Lakers ran them into a bear trap that they couldn’t shake.

Pau Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Shane Battier made a key four-point play down the stretch, as the hosts Memphis Grizzlies beat the error-prone Lakers 105-95 on Monday night.

“I think we played well offensively and defensively against the best team in the league,” said Gasol after the Grizzlies improved to their overall record against the Lakers to 3-29.

“We played a heck of a game.” Lorenzen Wright and James Posey added 15 points apiece for Memphis, (3-4), which stopped a three-game losing slide.

“It’s a great win. I think we played our style of basketball,” Posey said. “We didn’t give in and we were able to hold them.”

Shaquille O’Neal had 20 points and 12 rebounds to pace Los Angeles, which committed a season-high 23 turnovers, to lose their second in a row — both on the road — after starting the season with five straight victories.

“We had letdown and they just capitalized on our mistakes,” O’Neal said. “We just had too many turnovers and too many stupid mistakes. It’s a simple game. We need to make it a simple game, move the ball around, look for mismatches and take the high percentage shots.”

After trailing by 18 early in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant, who finished with 19 points, scored nine in a row, to pull the Lakers to within 97-89. But Battier buried a 3-pointer from the left corner and converted the free throw after being fouled by Bryant, pushing the lead to 101-89 with 1:58 remaining.

“Kobe was right in my face,” said Battier, who scored 12 points after sitting out the last game with a right knee sprain. “I can’t tell you it was a skillful shot because it was more luck than anything.”

The four-point play ended the Lakers comeback bid and put the game out of reach.

Cleveland Cavaliers 94 New York Knicks 80: Chris Mihm scored 19 points and top rookie LeBron James added 17, including all attempted three 3-pointers, helping the Cavaliers bounce the visiting Knicks. Ricky Davis added 16 points for Cleveland, which has won two in a row after opening the season with five straight losses. Allan Houston led New York with 22 points.

San Antonio Spurs 87 Utah Jazz 78: Tim Duncan returned to the lineup with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the hosts Spurs celebrated the retirement of former teammate David Robinson’s No. 50 jersey, by beating the Jazz for the 14th straight time.

Manu Ginobili had a game-high 18 points and Hedu Turkoglu had 14 for the NBA champions Spurs, who lost Duncan for three games with sprained left ankle.

Starting point guard Tony Parker made his season debut with nine points after missing the first seven contests games with a sprained left ankle.

Matt Harpring scored 11 points for Utah, which hasn’t beaten the Spurs since Feb. 6, 2000. Carlos Arroyo, Andre Kirilenko and Jarron Collins added 10 points apiece.

Denver Nuggets 105 Chicago Bulls 97: Earl Boykins had 14 points and nine assists, including a key three-pointer with 38 seconds left, lifting the visiting Nuggets past the Bulls.

Rookie Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 26 points and eight rebounds. Eddy Curry scored 20 points for Chicago (3-5), which fell to 1-4 at home.

Phoenix Suns 99 Golden State Warriors 96: Stephon Marbury and Joe Johnson scored 22 points, leading the Suns to their first road win of the season.

Amare Stoudemire added 15 points and 18 rebounds for Phoenix (3-3).

Jason Richardson had 22 points and nine rebounds to pace Golden State, which had its two game winning streak stopped.