O.J. Mayo scored 10 of his 24 points in a 17-point run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and put the Grizzlies ahead for good, adding to the woes of the Nets (5-51).
Zach Randolph added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Marc Gasol tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second half for Memphis, which won for only the third time in 11 games.
Brook Lopez had 26 points to lead the Nets, but only four came in the second half. Devin Harris added 16 points and 13 assists, but the point guard was only 1-of-6 in the final two quarters.
Yi Jianlian had 15 points for New Jersey, which could not capitalize on its biggest quarter of the season, a 36-point outburst in the first 12 minutes.
New Jersey appeared in total control for the opening 13 minutes, riding a career-best 17-point first quarter by Lopez to a 36-20 lead.
The margin grew to 38-20 in the opening minute of the second quarter when Josh Boone scored on a rebound, but things turned after that, much like they did in the season opener when New Jersey blew a 19-point third-quarter lead.
The Grizzlies, who rallied from an 18-point deficit before losing to Miami in double overtime on Friday, rallied behind Gay and Mayo in the second quarter to chip the deficit to 58-47 at the half.
Gay scored six straight points in an early third-quarter run that got the lead down to seven, but the big run came late in the quarter and at the start of the fourth.
Memphis scored the final 12 points in the third quarter to take a 78-74 lead, with Mayo scoring a three-point play early and a breakaway late. Randolph had tied the game at 74 with a three-point play.
Mayo provided the Grizzlies' final push hitting a jumper and a 3-pointer in the opening minute to push the Memphis lead to 83-74.
The Nets got close twice. A follow by Terrence Williams cut the advantage to 85-82, but former Net Marcus Williams converted a three-point play to ignite a seven-point run.
New Jersey got within 94-90 on a fast break by Courtney Lee with 3:56 left, but Randolph tipped in a shot, Gasol made two free throws and Gay iced the game with a monster jam.
Notes
Grizzlies F Sam Young crashed into the media table in the second quarter, sending a cup of ice coffee flying. … It was Chinese Cultural Night at the game, and Yi addressed the crowd in Chinese before the game. …Nets F Jarvis Hayes strained his left calf in the third quarter and did not return.