The Grizzlies trailed, 92-83, with 4:56 left before scoring 19 of the game's final 23 points. Gasol's basket with 1:40 to play gave Memphis the lead for good, 97-96.
The 7-foot forward's previous high was 27 against Chicago on December 26.
"It was a big win against a good team," Gasol said. "We made some good shots and got some important rebounds. They trusted me and I was trying to score every time and trying to win the game.
 Pau Gasol saw red after the first quarter, scoring 27 of his career-high 31 in the final 36 minutes of the game. Barry Gossage /NBAE/Getty Images |
The victory was the Grizzlies' second straight following a four-game losing streak and just their second all time in 14 games at America West Arena.
Stromile Swift recorded his fifth double-double in eight games, with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Shawn Marion led the Suns with 24 points and 17 rebounds and scored the basket that gave Phoenix a nine-point lead with just under five minutes to play.
The Suns have lost five in a row and three straight at home for the first time since March 1-12, 1999, when they dropped four in a row.
"I felt like we got some pretty good shots," said Phoenix coach Scott Skiles, who has been hearing rumors of a possible coaching change. "It's my low point coaching here. I was just made aware of the rumors yesterday. I really don't pay attention to those things."
Jason Williams chipped in 16 points, including 11 in the first quarter, to help Memphis take a 21-8 lead with 5:43 left. Williams hit two 3-pointers during the stretch.
"If I see something I like, I can call it," he said. "Anytime we can get a win on the road, it's tough. It's good for us."
Phoenix would not regain the lead until 5:01 left in the third when Marion hit a 16-foot jump shot from the right corner, making it 60-59. Marion reached the 20-point plateau for the 10th time this season.
"Effort was there," Marion said. "We just had a couple of minor collapses at the end. Several players didn't know what play we were running out there."
Memphis regained the lead with just 1.1 seconds left in the period when Swift drove the lane for a layup, making it 78-76.
Phoenix opened the last quarter with a 16-5 run over the first 7:04. Marion scored eight of those points and Rodney Rogers added six of his 16 points over that stretch.
"I don't know what it is right now," Rogers said. "I know we shouldn't have lost the game, but we did."
Marion shot 10-of-19 from the field in 40 minutes.
"We tried to stop them, get a good stop and then Gasol hit some big shots at the end for them," Marion said.