Jason Williams scored 10 of his 26 points in the final four minutes as the Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-108, before a raucous crowd at the Pyramid.
"We played tremendous tonight," Memphis coach Sidney Lowe said. "Playing last night and tonight the way we did, with the heart and character to stay in the game, was great. Everyone played great tonight. We played a perfect basketball game tonight."
"This game was huge," said Memphis forward Grant Long, who hit a pair from the line that made it 112-106 12 seconds left. "It's tough to come in and play well against the NBA champions. Coming off the win against the Knicks, this is a confidence builder. It was great to win at Madison Square Garden. We brought that momentum into tonight's game."
 Shane Battier was one of six Griz to record double figures against the defending champs. Glenn James NBAE/Getty Images |
Memphis beat the two-time defending NBA champions for just the second time in 25 all-time meetings and committed only four turnovers -- a record low for a Lakers' opponent.
"We just underestimated them tonight," Lakers guard Brian Shaw said. "They came out and played almost perfect ball. They shot 52 percent in the first half and just shot the ball very, very well. Teams, when they play us, especially at home, they get pumped up and play way above their heads."
Kobe Bryant scored 36 points for Los Angeles, but the game turned when he left with 50 seconds left in the third quarter with a sprained right rib. He scored just three points on 1-of-4 shoting in the final period. Prior to the injury, Bryant scored 12 straight points for the Lakers.
"Yeah, I had a nice rhythm going and I think the team was ready to break the game open, but give them credit," Bryant said. "They have a lot of talent. They're in the NBA for a reason. They can play."
However, Lakers coach Phil Jackson wondered if Bryant would have been better off staying on the bench.
"I got on him a little bit about it," Jackson said. "Don't play if you're not ready because I'd rather have somebody out there that's OK. He said, 'I'll let you know,', but I don't think he was right the last five to six minutes of the game. He had a little bit of a rib pull."
Williams' layup off a steal made it 106-103 before Stromile Swift made four straight free throws to give the Grizzlies a seven-point advantage with 32 seconds remaining.
"They beat New York last night and I think they found their chemistry," Lakers forward Robert Horry said.
Shaquille O'Neal scored 26 points and Derek Fisher added 12 for the Lakers. But O'Neal missed two crucial foul shots with the Lakers trailing 106-103. On the Grizzlies next two possessions, Swift got the ball inside and was fouled by O'Neal each time.
The Grizzlies were 26-of-33 from the line while the Lakers just 13-of-18.
"You can't give up 33 foul shots and only get half as many in a ballgame, especially when you're on the road," Jackson said. "They just went to the foul line time and time again in the fourth quarter."
The Lakers also committed 15 turnovers that the Grizzlies converted into 21 points.
"Those turnovers killed us," Jackson added. "They had four turnovers -- two in each half -- and we ended up turning the ball over way too many times."
Brevin Knight contributed 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting off the bench for Memphis.
"It's a different role coming off the bench for me," Knight said. "It's a different mentally, so I'm still learning."
The Lakers led, 31-26, after the first period, but the Grizzlies made nine of their first 11 shots in the second quarter to close within 58-56 at the half. Knight was 5-of-5 in the period.
The Lakers opened a 105-100 lead on Horry's two foul shots with 4:46 left. But rookie Shane Battier, who had 19 points, hit 1-of-2 free throws before Williams' 3-pointer pulled the Grizzlies within one with 4:11 to play.
Swift contributed 13 points for the Grizzlies, who shot 50 percent (42-of-84) for the first time this season.