Grizzlies rally to shock Timberwolves in NBA playoffs

The Memphis Grizzlies clawed back from a 26-point deficit to stun the Minnesota Timberwolves, 104-95, on Thursday and take a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series.

Down 26 points in the second quarter and 25 with 3:10 left in the third, the Grizzlies held their nerve in Minneapolis, where they out-scored the Timberwolves, 37-12, in the fourth quarter to match the fourth-largest comeback in NBA playoff history.

Desmond Bane scored 26 points and Brandon Clarke added 20 -- 12 of them in the fourth quarter -- off the bench for Memphis.

Ja Morant connected on just five of 18 shots from the field but put together a triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Memphis, who used a 21-0 fourth-quarter scoring run to turn the tables on the Timberwolves.

"Everybody stayed with it, stayed resilient throughout the whole entire game," Bane said. "Whether we were up, down, whatever -- it was enough to get it done."

Minnesota led, 47-21, with 10:28 left in the second quarter when the Grizzlies mounted their first charge, trimming the deficit to seven points at halftime.

The Timberwolves regained the upper hand with a quick start to the third quarter, taking a 73-50 lead on Jaden McDaniels' three-pointer with 4:28 left in the period.

D'Angelo Russell's three-pointer with 3:10 left in the third put Minnesota up 79-54, and despite the Grizzlies' scoring surge to end the period they trailed by 16 going into the fourth.

Bane drilled a three-pointer with 8:33 to play to cap a 21-0 scoring run that tied the game at 83-83.

Tyus Jones drained a three-pointer to put Memphis up for the first time, 86-85, and they didn't trail again.

"It was just effort and fighting," Clarke said. "We were down by, like 25, it was looking bad. But our team has always found a way this year."

Russell led the Timberwolves with 22 points, but he missed all three of his shots from the field in a scoreless fourth and teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, limited by foul trouble and aggressive defense from the Grizzlies, was held to just eight points.

"It's an emotional victory -- coming from being down a lot," Bane said, but he cautioned that there was still a lot of work to do in the best-of-seven Western Conference series.

"We've got to keep our heads. It's first to four."

Brunson powers Mavs

In Salt Lake City, the Dallas Mavericks took a 2-1 lead over the Utah Jazz in their series with a 126-118 victory.

Jalen Brunson shook off a sore back to score 31 points for Dallas.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 10 of his 20 in the fourth quarter and Maxi Kleber added 17 as the Mavericks held off the Jazz despite again playing without injured star Luka Doncic, who has missed all three games of the series so far with a calf strain but appears set to return for game four.

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 of his 32 points in the second half for Utah, who cut the deficit to one point on Mike Conley's three-pointer with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get in front.

"The most important thing was sticking together," said Brunson, who appeared to hurt his back in the second quarter after Royce O'Neale collided with him.

He briefly left the court but returned to complete another big game.

"This is a tough place to play," Brunson said. "Their fans are great for them. When they had their runs, we didn't fold."

Agence France-Presse

Andrew Wiggins’ 40 helps Warriors trounce Grizzlies

Andrew Wiggins exploded for a season-best 40 points and Jordan Poole, subbing for injured Stephen Curry, missed his season-high by one with 25 Friday night, lifting the short-handed Golden State Warriors to a 116-103 victory over the host Memphis Grizzlies in the opener of a two-day, two-game series.

The Western Conference playoff hopefuls, who had not met this season, will duel again Saturday night, also at Memphis.

Despite playing without Curry, who suffered a bruised tailbone Wednesday in a win over Houston, and key reserves James Wiseman and Eric Paschall, both out for COVID-related reasons, the Warriors took the lead for good in the 10th minute of the game on a Kent Bazemore layup.

En route to a second straight win on a three-game trip, the Warriors went up by as many as 21 in the second quarter and 25 in the third before coasting home.

Ja Morant and Grayson Allen had 14 points apiece for Memphis, which lost for the fourth time in its last five games.

Wiggins’ 40-point game was the ninth of his career, with the previous eight all having come while he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It fell seven points shy of his career-high of 47 points for the Timberwolves against the Los Angeles Lakers in November 2016.

Wiggins connected on a season-high six 3-pointers, which was one shy of his career-high.

Poole, who has been productive off the bench since a stint in the G League, made the most of his first start of the season. His 25 points came up just short of his career-high of 26, which he set at Phoenix, also in Curry’s absence, on March 4.

Curry’s brother-in-law, Damion Lee, added season-high 21 points and Kevon Looney chipped in with a season-high-tying 11 for the Warriors, who had been 0-2 in Curry’s previous absences.

Lee bombed in four 3-pointers and Poole three for the Warriors, who outscored the Grizzlies 45-24 from beyond the arc.

Draymond Green recorded a game-high 13 assists and a team-high 11 rebounds to complement two points.

Jonas Valanciunas grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds as part of a double-double with 10 points for the Grizzlies, who were coming off an 89-85 win over Miami on Wednesday.

Brandon Clarke added 13 points.

-reuters

Harden's 43 points, triple-double steer Rockets past Grizzlies

HOUSTON — James Harden had 43 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in his fourth straight 40-point game, leading the Houston Rockets over the Memphis Grizzlies, 113-101, on Monday night (Tuesday Manila time) for their fifth consecutive victory.

Harden set an NBA record with his eighth straight game with at least 35 points and five assists, besting Oscar Robertson, who twice had seven-game streaks. Harden finished with his fourth triple-double this season and 39th overall.

Houston has won 10 of its last 11 to improve to 21-15.

Harden continued his incredible run that has powered Houston's surge up the Western Conference standings after a slow start, making six 3-pointers and 21 of 27 free throws. He has made at least four 3-pointers in eight straight games has finished with 30 points or more in 10 games in a row.

The Grizzlies cut the lead to nine with about 90 seconds left. But P.J. Tucker made a free throw for Houston before Austin Rivers added a layup to make it 113-101 and seal the victory with about 35 seconds left.

Harden grabbed his 10th rebound seconds after that to complete his triple-double.

Kyle Anderson had 20 points and Mike Conley added 19 for the Grizzlies, who lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Houston was up by 13 to start the fourth and back-to-back baskets by Clint Capela made it 93-77 with about 9 minutes left. Harden made four straight free throws for the Rockets later in the fourth to leave them up 98-83.

But the Grizzlies scored four quick points, with the last basket coming when Anderson stole the ball from Harden, to cut it to 98-87 with 5 1/2 to go.

Gerald Green answered with a 3-pointer and Houston stretched the lead to 103-87 with about 4 minutes left.

The Rockets led by double digits for most of the night and were up by 23 after two free throws by Harden midway through the third quarter. Memphis closed out the third with a 14-3 run to get within 86-73 entering the fourth. Marc Gasol led the way in that stretch, scoring five points.

The Rockets led 61-38 at halftime behind 28 points from Harden. He capped his huge first half by making two 3s in the last 31 seconds of the half, capped by one that was well behind the line with Anderson in his face.

Tip-ins

Grizzlies: Gasol has at least one 3-pointer in 13 straight games, which ties a career high.

Rockets: James Ennis missed his 10th straight game with a strained right hamstring. Coach Mike D'Antoni said he should return for Houston's next game. ... Chris Paul missed his fifth game with a strained left hamstring. He said Monday that he's doing better but doesn't know when he'll return. ... Green made four 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 18 points and six 3s. ... Eric Gordon sat out with a bruised right knee.

source: philstar.com

Grizzlies sign Yuta Watanabe to two-way deal

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Yuta Watanabe to a two-way contract Friday (Saturday in Manila) and waived guard/forward Myke Henry.

The 23-year-old Watanabe is a native of Japan who moved to the United States in 2013 and played collegiately at George Washington. After going undrafted last month, the 6-foot-9 Watanabe averaged 9.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in five games for the Brooklyn Nets’ summer league team in Las Vegas.

Henry, who is 6-foot-6, played in 20 games for the Grizzlies this past season after signing a two-way contract Jan. 13.

The 25-year-old Henry averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 18.9 minutes for the Grizzlies. He also averaged 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the NBA G League for the Oklahoma City Blue and Memphis Hustle.

source: philstar.com

Kevin Durant stars as Thunder snap Grizzlies’ six-game streak

Thunder 86, Grizzlies 77: Kevin Durant collected 31 points, eight assists and eight rebounds as host Oklahoma City ended Memphis' six-game winning streak.

Serge Ibaka added 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won 11 of their last 12 games. Durant went 11-of-21 from the field to get back to the 30-point plateau after missing the mark in back-to-back games.

Marc Gasol scored 13 points and Zach Randolph recorded 13 points and 13 boards to lead the Grizzlies. Courtney Lee added 11 points but Nick Calathes slumped to eight on 4-of-11 shooting in his second start in place of injured point guard Mike Conley (ankle).

Lee's basket with 4:54 left pulled Memphis within 78-75 before Durant scored four points in a 7-0 burst to push the lead back to double figures. The Grizzlies managed one field goal the rest of the way and turned it over four times in the final three minutes to help Oklahoma City put it away.

Memphis went without a field goal over the final 6:25 of the second quarter as Durant led a 20-4 run to send the Thunder into the break with a 51-36 lead. The Grizzlies found their rhythm again early in the third quarter and chopped the deficit to 62-57 before four points from Durant in the final minute helped give Oklahoma City a 69-61 lead heading into the fourth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The teams combined to go 6-of-34 from 3-point range, with Durant struggling to 2-of-7 from beyond the arc.  Memphis held its 11th straight opponent under 100 points – a string that began with a 90-87 triumph over Oklahoma City on Jan. 14.  Thunder reserve C Steven Adams had four of the team's nine blocked shots.

source: interaksyon.com

Pacers still unbeaten after shutting down Grizzlies

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers say their unbeaten record doesn’t mean as much as how they’ve earned it.

The Pacers used the same formula that has worked so far to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night — a dominant defensive effort anchored by 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert, timely shooting from forward Paul George, improved play from guard Lance Stephenson and steady production from the bench. George scored 23 points and Stephenson had a triple-double as the Pacers beat the Grizzlies 95-79.

“I think the most important thing is the way we’re playing and the level of confidence we’re playing with,” Pacers reserve forward Luis Scola said. “We’re playing like we belong to be the No. 1 seed in the East, at least for these eight games. We know we’re going to lose games too, but we’re playing the right way, we’re playing with the right attitudes, right approach for the game.”

Stephenson’s triple-double was the first of his career. The guard had 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. The assist total was a career high, and the rebounding total matched his regular-season career high.

The Pacers knew Stephenson was getting close to the triple-double. He got it on an assist to George for a free-throw-line jumper with 10:56 remaining that gave Indiana a 78-55 lead.

“We were talking a little bit before he got his 10th assist, and we both celebrated on it,” George said.

Stephenson tried to downplay the significance of the accomplishment because he feels he has more great moments ahead.

“I’m just being aggressive, playing like I normally play,” he said. “We played good as a team and made smart plays and got the ‘W.’ We locked in together, everybody on the same page.”

Stephenson came to the Pacers with some baggage, but he has begun to mature under coach Frank Vogel.

“He’s come a long way,” Vogel said. “He had a lot to learn about professionalism and how to work. He’s playing within himself and playing with efficiency. Winning basketball games is about confidence, and he gives us an edge, a swagger.”

George had just four points at halftime, but the forward scored 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the second half.

Point guard George Hill scored 13 points and Scola added 12 for Indiana. The Pacers (8-0) improved on their franchise-best start and dominated a team that played in the Western Conference finals last season.

Center Marc Gasol scored 15 points and forward Zach Randolph added 12 points, and each grabbed six rebounds for the Grizzlies (3-4). Point guard Mike Conley, who entered the game averaging 20.2 points, was held to 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Memphis shot just 41 percent from the field and posted its lowest point total of the young season.

“They came out aggressive and outrebounded us and made shots from the start,” Memphis guard Tony Allen said. “They played harder than we did and were the aggressors. And when a team does that, they usually win. They imposed their will on us and hit us in the mouth from the start.”

The Pacers held the Grizzlies to 34 percent shooting in the first half to lead 46-39 at the break. Stephenson had eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists before the break. George, who entered the game as the league’s No. 3 scorer, made only two of eight shots in the opening two quarters.

The Pacers, as they often have, fixed their problems at halftime.

“We have open discussion at half,” Pacers forward David West said. “We watch video, we watch film of the mistakes we made in the first half and we demand that everybody comes out of this locker room with the intent to change, correct the mistakes we made in the first half.”

Two quick buckets by George gave the Pacers a 53-41 lead and caused the Grizzlies to call timeout three minutes into the second half.

The Pacers came up with the ball in a scramble, and West found Stephenson under the basket for a layup that pushed Indiana’s lead to 61-46 and led to another Grizzlies timeout.

Allen was called for a flagrant foul with 1:19 left in the third quarter. George made the first of two free throws, then made a tough up-and-under basket on the extra possession to put the Pacers up 70-52. Indiana led 72-55 at the end of the period.

George scored 13 points in the third quarter on 5-for-6 shooting from the field.

“Paul George is playing at an all-world level,” Memphis coach David Joerger said. “They’re an elite team, there’s no question.”

Stephenson left the game to a standing ovation with 4:11 remaining.

“He’s growing,” West said. “We still have to reel him in. He still has a ways to go in terms of his maturity, but everything he’s doing, he’s helping, contributing to this group.”

NOTES: Pacers coach Frank Vogel said F Danny Granger could return to practice this week. Granger has not played this season because of a strained left calf. Vogel did not say when he expected Granger to return to game action. … Pacers F Paul George was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday. … Grizzlies G Mike Conley and F Zach Randolph both played high school ball in Indiana. … Indiana entered the game leading the NBA in scoring defense (85.3 points per game), point differential (9.6 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (.389). … Pacers C Roy Hibbert, the league’s leading shot blocker, swatted four in the first quarter and finished with five on the night.

source: interaksyon.com