Showing posts with label stunning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stunning. Show all posts

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Grey stunning Thunder in OT to take series 2-1 edge

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The Grizzlies might be an 8-seed, but they play at home like a 1-seed. At least in this calendar year. Since January 1, the Grizzlies are tied for the best home record in the Western Conference including playoffs.

The end-of-game dynamic between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant reared its ugly head again on Saturday. Entering Game 3, Durant had been tremendous in the final 5 minutes of regulation and OT, shooting over 50 percent from the floor compared to just 26 percent for Westbrook. Both struggled down the stretch on Saturday, combining to go 0-10 with the lone points coming on a pair of Russell Westbrook free throws.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies are finding a little desperation can carry them a long way.

How far? That remains to be seen, but they sure keep finding ways to win.

Zach Randolph had 21 points and a franchise-record 21 rebounds, and the Grizzlies rallied from a 16-point deficit to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-93 in overtime Saturday and grab a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.

Tony Allen may not have the numbers to show it, but the Grizzlies' gritty lockdown defender has put his pawprints all over this Memphis team, ESPN.com's John Hollinger writes. Story

??TrueHoop: Grizzlies fight for lead

The Grizzlies are trying to do something no NBA team has done in climbing from the No. 8 seed all the way to the Western Conference finals. They moved two wins away from that by remaining undefeated on their home court this postseason.

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins knows his Grizzlies were fortunate, but says that's the NBA playoffs.

"In order to go further, you always have to be in games where you've got to do something miraculous in order to win the game," Hollins said. "I thought this was miraculous the way we fought back after being down 16, and it was a super win. And like I said, by the grace of God we were fortunate to come out on top."

The Grizzlies did it with an amazing comeback in a game they couldn't have looked more out of synch or rusty early, but scored the first six points of overtime to finish off the victory. Guard Mike Conley said the Grizzlies just didn't come with effort the first three quarters.

"I think once we looked up at the clock and saw how many points we were down, a little bit of desperation hit," Conley said. "We were like, 'Man, we cannot lose this game.' And guys amped up their game, made some changes here and there, and we were able to just be scrappy and play our game, and fortunately we got the win."

Kevin Durant, the NBA's scoring leader in the regular season and these playoffs, took only three shots in overtime and missed them all. He finished with 22 points, his lowest this postseason after averaging 31.6 points coming in. He also attempted only one free throw, which he missed. Durant groaned heavily as he walked away after talking with reporters.

Since January 1, only the top-seeded Bulls and Spurs were as good at home as the Grizzlies, the No. 8 seed in the West.

-- Source: ESPN Stats and Information

"This is a tough loss," Durant said. "I'm trying to stay positive, but it was tough. This was tough. We were up 13 going into the fourth, had a good roll going. It was tough."

O.J. Mayo had 18 points off the bench. Conley also scored 18, Marc Gasol had 16 and Tony Allen 10.

Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 12 assists, but committed five of his seven turnovers after the third quarter before fouling out late in overtime for the Thunder. Serge Ibaka had 14 points and James Harden 12.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks said his team played the way they wanted for three quarters.

"And we stopped doing it," Brooks said. "The last seven or eight minutes, we just stopped doing it, and we gave into their play. I give them credit. They really stepped up and got into us and made us take tough shots."

Some of the credit for the Memphis comeback can go to Hollins switching to a small lineup in the second half, trying something different with Oklahoma City packing the paint to contain Randolph and Gasol. Hollins told his smaller Grizzlies that those big men had carried them to this point and that the time had come for the perimeter players to step up.

Hollins went with Shane Battier, Allen, Mayo, Conley and Darrell Arthur for a stretch with Randolph and Gasol on the bench.

"Our guards took that challenge and were just aggressive," Mayo said.

Mayo switched onto Westbrook, who hit 5 of 16 after halftime, and gave Conley the chance to rest a bit defensively. Mayo knows Westbrook well from having played against him for several years and also working out together in the offseason. Mayo was able to keep Westbrook off some of his favorite shooting spots on the floor.

"I just wanted to use my size and my strength a little bit, and whenever he rose up to shoot the jumper, just contest ...," Mayo said. "I just made it a little difficult for him.

The Thunder scored 10 points in the fourth quarter Saturday. That's one of the lowest fourth-quarter totals in a playoff game since 2005.

-- Source: ESPN Stats and Information

Conley said that gave him more energy and strength in his legs for offense. The guard had 10 points after the third quarter.

Randolph said every time he touched the ball in the first half, he found three defenders on him. He credits Mayo as the player of the game.

"The guy did great on Westbrook. He took it upon himself to guard Westbrook, and he did a great job," Randolph said.

Oklahoma City was up 70-54 on Kendrick Perkins' tip-in with 3:53 left in the third and seemed in control with Westbrook scoring 13 points in the period.

Memphis erased that lead with a 13-2 run and outscored Oklahoma City 23-10 in the fourth quarter, then 15-7 in overtime. The Thunder hit just 3 of 12 in the extra period.

With the score tied at 86, both teams had a chance to win in regulation.

Brooks took a timeout with 18 seconds to go, having to holler to get referee Ken Mauer's attention in the roaring FedExForum. Durant missed a 20-footer off the back rim as the shot clock buzzer sounded with 4 seconds left, but Randolph's own 3 for the win clanked off the rim at the buzzer.

Memphis took over in overtime. First, Allen drove for a layup, then Conley scored on a layup. Allen then hit two free throws for a 92-86 lead with 2:56 left. The Grizzlies polished the win off at the free throw line, hitting 9 of 12.

That left the Thunder thinking of what could have been.

"We controlled that whole game," Thunder guard James Harden said. "We just let one slip away."

Now their focus turns to Game 4 on Monday night.

"The quicker we can get over it and realize that we need to win one game here and we can still do that the better," Thunder forward Nick Collison said. "If we win Game 4, then we'll still be in good shape. As disappointing as it is, we need to get over it quickly and be ready to play in Game 4."

The Grizzlies, coming off a three-day layoff that was their longest break in a couple weeks, didn't give their sellout crowd much to cheer until late.

Oklahoma City scored the first five points, and the Thunder did what worked so well Tuesday night by collapsing whenever Memphis tried to pass the ball into the paint.

Memphis led 28-24 when the Thunder went on a 16-3 run and grabbed a 40-31 lead on a pair of free throws by Westbrook. Oklahoma City outscored Memphis 31-21 in the quarter and led 51-43 at halftime.

Conley didn't score until 4:45 left in the first half on a fast-break layup.

Game notes
The Grizzlies had played in May only twice previously, and they were eliminated from the postseason in both games. Phoenix handled the honors May 1, 2005, and Dallas ended the Grizzlies' season May 1, 2006. ... The Grizzlies were 2-5 in overtime games in the regular season and now are 1-1 this postseason. ... Memphis won despite shooting under 40 percent (37.8 percent) for the first time since Dec. 13, 2010, against Portland. ... This was Memphis' 11th come from behind victory this season and second in the playoffs trailing by 10 or more points in the second half.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Grizzlies push Spurs, complete stunning victory

Over the last 15 seasons, there have now been 218 series played. Of the 218 winners of series-clinching games, only four times has a team won by making just a single FG from beyond the three-point line. Memphis, welcome to the club. The other three to do it? The net in 2004, the Knicks in 1999 and the Lakers in 1997.


From Elias: The Grizzlies are only the 4th team to sweep the Spurs at home in both the regular and postseason in the Tim Duncan era. 2 of the other 3 teams advanced to the NBA final.


MEMPHIS, Tenn.. -These Memphis Grizzlies just keep making NBA history - and believers.


Zach Randolph had 31 points and 11 rebounds and the Grizzlies advanced to their first Western Conference semifinals and made NBA history in knocking off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs 99-91 on Friday night.


Memphis had been the best known franchise for empty seats and the unenviable NBA mark for playoff futility at 0-12 after being swept in its first three appearances. This time, a third straight sellout crowd cheered every basket with a couple of signs begging the Grizzlies to "Finish them" in a town desperately needing a hero.


The Grizzlies needed 10 seasons in Memphis, but they have become just that as only the second No.. 8 seed to upset a no.. 1 seed since the NBA expanded the opening to a best-of-seven series.


Now Memphis coach Lionel Hollins sees a great opportunity for the Grizzlies to do something really special.


"Not a lot of people knew about us coming in, but we certainly have made some noise and turned some heads and got some attention that probably wouldn't can't have been given to us if we'd lost this series," Hollins said. "We'd just be another eight seed losing to the No.." "1 seed."


They will open the second round in Oklahoma City on Sunday.


Marc Gasol had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis. Tony Allen added 11 points, and rookie Greivis Vasquez had 11 off the bench playing 24 minutes with Mike Conley in foul trouble most of the game.


Tony Parker led San Antonio with 23 points, Manu Ginobili had 16, Tim Duncan 12 and Antonio McDyess 10.


The Spurs led only twice at 2-0 and again at 80-79 when McDyess hit a 15-footer with 4: 41 left.


That's when Randolph, the man cast off and unwanted before he arrived in Memphis in the summer of 2009, took over and scored 17 of the Grizzlies' 29 points in the fourth quarter.


"From a pick-me-up perspective, we just got on his back, and we rode him like he was an English warhorse," Hollins said. "He was really carrying us, We were just hanging on."


Randolph scored 10 of the next 14 for Memphis, with his hook putting Memphis ahead to stay at 81-80. Conley added a jumper, then Randolph hit a fallaway jumper, two free throws and another fallaway jumper for an 89-82 lead with 1: 55 left. Randolph went to the bench to a huge cheer with 3.4 seconds left.


"Emotion is high, not just for the Memphis Grizzlies goal for the whole city of Memphis and the fans," Randolph said. "It's something." It's a great accomplishment. We've got to be happy. We should be happy. But it's a quick turnaround. "We've got a game Sunday, and we have to get ready."


The Spurs, winners of 61 games in the regular season and the dynasty with four NBA titles with Duncan, turned the ball over three straight times while Randolph was putting away this franchise's biggest win. One desperate pass from Ginobili went right off Parker's hands.


"we played well all season long," Parker said. "As you know, it doesn't 't mean anything if you don' t play well in the playoffs, and overall Memphis played better than us Have to give them credit." Had a chance at the end, up one, 5 minutes to go. "We didn't make the plays we needed to play."


San Antonio had gotten a reprieve with Gary Neal's clutch 3 getting the Spurs to overtime as they staved off elimination Wednesday night. But the Spurs talked of how lucky they were to pull out a game when they had their bags packed for the offseason.


"We were hoping at some point that they would fold under the pressure, make some mistakes through that pressure and they didn't," Duncan said. "They did the exact opposite." "they made every play they needed to make, they took care of the ball, they got the shots they wanted to get, and their guys made the shots when they needed to."


Ginobili also had a big shot to help the Spurs stay alive. This game, he had an even more amazing shot, beating the buzzer at the end of the third quarter as he tossed up the ball from short half off balance and trying to beat the clock. He had been 3 of 10 from the floor before that lucky attempt pulled the Spurs to 70-66.


Forward Shane Battier called it a perfect team effort by the Grizzlies against a team in the Spurs that never quit.


"those guys are like vampires." We're trying to kill them, but they kept getting up. "we kept missing the heart," Battier said. "When (Matt) Bonner is hitting bank 3 s and Ginobili is hitting a halfcourt shot at halftime, 'you' re saying, ' Gosh, go away." "please go away."


It just wasn't enough for a team that couldn't beat the Grizzlies in Memphis during the regular season and the postseason gold. The Spurs ended this season dropping nine of the last 10 on the road and 16 of the last 19 in the postseason away from San Antonio.


Asked if this was a big upset, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich defended the strength of the Western Conference.


"It doesn't matter what your seeding is in the West." "As has been evidenced year after year, we all know that everybody's basically as good as everybody else," Popovich said.


The Grizzlies were criticized for ending the regular season with two losses. Hollins rested Randolph and Allen with critics accusing them of trying to avoid the Lakers and draw the Spurs.


Popovich credited Memphis' athleticism with really hurt a team that had been the NBA's best 3-point shooters. The Spurs shot only 31 percent through the first five games and were just 5-of-22 Friday night.


"They closed out really well, sagged in the paint and were still able to close out on shooter, and it's a credit to them," Popovich said.


Parker opened the game with a pair of free throws, then the Grizzlies took over. Allen scored on a floater in the lane, Randolph tipped in the ball as the start of 10 straight points by the Grizzlies. That prompted Popovich to scream at a referee for a timeout. But Vasquez and Allen scored for a 14-0 spurt before Parker finally answered with a layup.


For Memphis, it was almost as dominant as the third quarter of Game 4 when the Grizzlies outscored the Spurs 30-15. This time, the Spurs didn't score from the floor for the first five minutes as the Grizzlies opened with a 28-16 lead after the first 12 minutes and led by as much as 14. The Spurs had six turnovers in the period.


Duncan, who turned 35 on Monday, looked every bit of those early years as he almost stumbled trying to drive to the basket. He later added an empathic dunk that pulled the Spurs within 46-43 at halftime.


Game notes
Memphis hadn't haven't scored more than 44 points in the paint in the series until Friday night. The Grizzlies outscored San Antonio 62-38 in the paint and outrebounded them 43-32. ... The Grizzlies even had a big edge at the free throw line, 22 of 30, compared to 12 of 14 for the Spurs.