SB Nation Spurs Vs. Grizzlies, 2011 NBA Playoffs
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It was a tight one, but the Memphis Grizzlies did just enough to hang on and defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 91-88, in Game 3 of a 2011 NBA Playoffs first-round series. The No. 8 seeded Grizzlies are now up 2-1 against the top-seeded Spurs and poised to pull off the upset.
The Grizzlies essentially clinched the win when Zach Randolph nailed a three-pointer with 41 seconds left. The shot came at the end of the shot clock, and it was a complete surprise. The Spurs had one last chance to win after cutting the lead to three points, but instead of calling timeout, the Spurs rushed the ball up the floor after a Grizzlies miss. Ultimately, Manu Ginobili couldn't even get a shot off, and the Spurs lost.
Randolph finished with 25 points to lead Memphis. Ginobili had 23 to lead the Spurs.
The Spurs cut the Grizzlies' lead to five points at the end of the third period, then eventually went on a 9-1 run to tie the game at 75 with 8:06 remaining after Ginobili cut backdoor behind Tony Allen, took a pass from Tim Duncan and finished a layup while drawing a foul. But Memphis maintained the lead for most of the middle stages of the fourth quarter. San Antonio tied the game at 80, but O.J. Mayo nailed a three-pointer to push Memphis back ahead. The Grizzlies took an 86-82 lead, but lost Allen to his sixth foul with 2:56 remaining.
Two Ginobili free throws cut the lead to two points, but Marc Gasol put Memphis up four with a 17-foot jump shot at the end of the shot clock. Two possessions later, Parker sliced down the lane and got a layup to cut Memphis' lead to 88-86 with 56 seconds left.
Follow along with this StoryStream for game updates. And for more on these teams, check out our Spurs blog, Pounding the Rock, and our Grizzlies blog, Straight Outta Vancouver.
The San Antonio Spurs are hanging around in a pivotal Game 3 against the Memphis Grizzlies in their 2011 NBA Playoffs series. The Spurs cut the Grizzlies' halftime lead in half and trail just 71-66 entering the fourth quarter.
The Spurs immediately got back in the game early in the second half, cutting the lead to six points on an Antonio McDyess jumper. Memphis pushed the lead back to double digits, but San Antonio again cut it to six points on another McDyess jumper with 4:18 remaining, leading to a Memphis timeout. However, the Spurs haven't been able to get any closer, and may have to deal with a banged-up Manu Ginobili. Ginobili fell on his elbow on a fast break, and while he is still playing, he appears to be in some pain.
The Spurs did rally once again though to close the quarter. Tony Parker nailed two free throws, and George Hill converted on a fast break layup after a turnover. Parker then drove into the teeth of the defense for a layup to cut Memphis' lead to five points.
Follow along with this StoryStream for game updates. And for more on these teams, check out our Spurs blog, Pounding the Rock, and our Grizzlies blog, Straight Outta Vancouver.
The Memphis Grizzlies continue to fare well in their first home playoff game since 2006. They maintained a double-digit lead against the San Antonio Spurs for much of the second quarter and lead by a score of 52-42 at halftime in Game 3 of their first-round 2011 NBA Playoffs series.
The Grizzlies led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, as their bench made its mark on the game. Backup point guard Greivis Vasquez fed Zach Randolph for a short jumper to give Memphis a 41-26 lead with 8:34 remaining. The Spurs rallied a bit, cutting the lead to eight at two separate points, but Randolph re-energized the crowd with a beautiful behind-the-back pass in the post to a cutting Tony Allen for a layup. Mike Conley then drove down the lane for a layup to push the lead back to 12 points with 5:07 remaining, leading to a San Antonio time out. The Spurs couldn't get any closer than 10 points the rest of the half.
The Grizzlies are completely dominating the Spurs on the inside. Randolph already has 14 points, scoring most of those in the second quarter. That came one quarter after center Marc Gasol dominated the first quarter. Gasol has 10 points in the game. Manu Ginobili has eight points to lead San Antonio.
Follow along with this StoryStream for game updates. And for more on these teams, check out our Spurs blog, Pounding the Rock, and our Grizzlies blog, Straight Outta Vancouver.
The Memphis Grizzlies are off to an excellent start in their first home playoff game since 2006. They have jumped on the Spurs early and lead by a score of 29-29 in Game 3 of their 2011 NBA Playoffs series. The winner will take a 2-1 series lead.
The Spurs got off to a bit of a slow start, looking a bit nervous as the FedEx Forum crowd got loud. Gregg Popovich tried to calm him troops down by telling them that it's "just basketball" that they've "been here before," but it didn't really work. The Grizzlies continued to pound San Antonio inside, shooting over 50 percent from the floor. A Shane Battier three-pointer from the corner gave Memphis a 25-18 lead with 1:54 to go in the first quarter, leading to another Spurs timeout.
The Spurs responded by going to a three-guard lineup, placing George Hill, Gary Neal and Manu Ginobili in the lineup at the same time, but it didn't really work. Battier responded by posting up Ginobili for a jump hook to push the Grizzlies' lead to nine, and Neal had his shot blocked at the buzzer.
Follow along with this StoryStream for game updates. And for more on these teams, check out our Spurs blog, Pounding the Rock, and our Grizzlies blog, Straight Outta Vancouver.
The Memphis Grizzlies, flying high off of a Game 1 in San Antonio, crumbled in Game 2 against the Spurs, eventually submitting to a 93-87 loss. What changed between the games wasn't just Manu Ginobili; the Argentine did play a role, of course, with 17 points in Game 2 after missing Game 1. But Memphis' biggest problems came on their own offensive end, where they hit just 39.8 percent from the field and Zach Randolph, a monster in Game 1, came away with a 5-14 night.
Marc Gasol was similarly thwarted in Game 2, hitting two of nine from the field. At the end of a season built on offense -- to the shock of many -- San Antonio bounced back with an extraordinary display of defense, shutting the Grizzlies down. Memphis' offense wasn't perfect in Game 1; it was simply abysmal in Game 2.
Now that the series shifts to Tennessee, where Grizzlies fans get their first taste of playoff basketball since 2006, and see a tied series for the first time ever, Memphis will push harder for the win. Despite Z-Bo's relative dispassion (unless a ref missed a call, he's one of the cooler customers on the court), this team is excitable, and Tony Allen is a huge part of that. Some might overrate his impact -- don't forget how solid this team looked by the end of last season -- but there's no questioning his spirit, and the infectiousness of that. If the team needs a spiritual lift after the tough Game 2 loss, Allen's the guy to provide it.
But on offense, Randolph has to provide it, and Gasol needs to provide more. The margin was so slim in Game 1 ... with Manu out ... and Gasol almost perfect ... and Randolph romping. With Manu back, Memphis desperately needs that offense to perform better. The big men are the key.
Be sure to check out our Spurs vs. Grizzlies hub. For more on the Spurs, visit Pounding The Rock. For more on the Grizzlies, visit Straight Outta Vancouver.
Zach Randolph, 'No-No-YES! Shots' And The Price Of Fear
by Tom Ziller
With the Memphis Grizzlies leading the San Antonio Spurs by two with 42 seconds left, the shot clock running down and the scent of a wonderfully improbable upset hanging in the air, Zach Randolph did about the last thing you'd want Zach Randolph to do, but upon consideration, the first thing you'd expect Zach Randolph to do. He popped a deep three-pointer over Tim Duncan.
Of course it went in. Grizzlies win.
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Apr 24 9:23a