PHILADELPHIA — Rudy Gay to Toronto. Rudy Gay to Boston. It’s easier to count the teams who don’t covet Gay.
But as long as he’s still with Memphis, Gay is doing what he can to help the Grizzlies win.
Gay scored 26 points and scored the winning basket off his own rebound with 13.3 seconds left to lead Memphis to a 103-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Gay’s name is one of the hottest around in NBA trade rumors. The Grizzlies, who rallied from 17 points down to beat the Sixers, are fourth in the Western Conference and listening to offers for their leading scorer.
He showed his value down the stretch, hitting the go-ahead bucket, then sinking two free throws to seal the win.
“Whether I’m here or not, it shouldn’t affect this team," Gay said. “I’m going to be a professional about it and make sure that it doesn’t."
He added: “Wherever I go, I’m going to be me."
Marc Gasol scored a season-high 27 points and Jerryd Bayless had a season-high 21 to help the Grizzlies win without point guard Mike Conley. Conley sat out with a sprained left ankle suffered in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.
The Grizzlies rallied from their double-digit deficit to take control late in the fourth. Bayless missed a jumper, Gay grabbed the rebound and put Memphis up 101-100 on a bucket with 13.3 seconds left.
“When the ball’s up, you’ve got to go get it," Gay said. “I just went to go get it."
Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young missed a short attempt in front of the basket and the Grizzlies grabbed the rebound. Gay hit both attempts from the free-throw line for the three-point cushion.
Nick Young couldn’t get the tying shot off at the buzzer for the Sixers.
Tied at 79-all to start the fourth, neither team could break free the rest of the quarter.
Gasol hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer for a 93-90 lead, but Evan Turner came right back with a short jumper and Thaddeus Young gave the Sixers a one-point lead after Memphis was whistled for an offensive foul.
Spencer Hawes hit a jumper and Jrue Holiday followed with a basket after a fortuitous bounce popped the ball straight up off the rim and through the net for a 98-95 lead. It wasn’t enough. The Sixers still haven’t won consecutive games since they had a three-game winning streak from Nov. 25-30.
Turner scored a season-high 27 points, Thaddeus Young had 23, and Holiday had 18 points and 10 assists.
“We’re playing great," Turner said. “You think bad luck just keeps rolling? Basketball’s a game of runs."
Turner said the Sixers will be better once, “the big fella comes back."
He’s about ready. Andrew Bynum, their 7-foot center, has targeted a post-All-Star break return from bone bruises in his knees that have sidelined him the entire season. The former Lakers All-Star, acquired in the offseason, dunked on Sunday for the first time with Philadelphia, a “baby step," in a comeback the Sixers are counting on to lift them into the playoff race.
In other games Monday:
Nuggets 102
Pacers 101
DENVER — Andre Iguodala made a free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining after forcing a turnover to deny a last-second shot by Indiana, and Denver beat the Pacers.
Rockets 125
Jazz 80
SALT LAKE CITY — James Harden scored 25 points and Houston handed Utah its worst home loss in franchise history.
Kings 96
Wizards 94
WASHINGTON — Isaiah Thomas made a floater with a second to play, capping a seesaw finish as Sacramento broke a four-game losing streak.
Bulls 93
Bobcats 85
CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 19 points and Nate Robinson added 15 as Chicago won for the seventh time in nine games.
Warriors 114
Raptors 102
TORONTO — David Lee had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 17 points before leaving with an injury, and Golden State beat an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time in four games this month.
Nets 97
Magic 77
NEW YORK — Deron Williams had 20 points and nine assists to help Brooklyn sweep the four-game season against Orlando and win its eighth straight at home.