Warriors-Grizzlies Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Feb 18 2012 12:42AM

The Memphis Grizzlies nearly let a huge lead slip away in their last game.

The Golden State Warriors did just that the last time they faced the Grizzlies.

Memphis goes for its fourth consecutive victory overall and sixth straight at home in this series Saturday night when the Warriors try to rebound from their worst shooting performance of the season.

After leading by as many as 23 in the second half, the Grizzlies (17-14) escaped with a 103-102 home win over Denver on Friday when Dante Cunningham tipped in Rudy Gay's miss with less than a second remaining.

"The importance of that play - I don't have the words for it right now," guard Mike Conley said, "because I don't think that Cunningham understands how big of a play that was for this team and where our path is going from here."

With its third straight victory secured, Memphis now will go for its longest winning streak since a seven-game run Jan. 12-23, which culminated with a 91-90 victory at Golden State. Gay scored three of his team-high 23 points in the final 23 seconds as the Grizzlies dug themselves out of a 20-point third-quarter hole by scoring 39 in the last 12 minutes.

The home team had won the previous seven meetings between these teams.

Memphis has won of 10 of 13 at home versus Golden State and the last five meetings at FedExForum, including a 110-91 victory March 30 which assured the Grizzlies their first winning season since 2005-06.

Monta Ellis, who left near the end of that game with a sprained right ankle, should be available Saturday for the Warriors despite hyperextending his right knee with 17.1 seconds left in the third quarter of Friday's 110-87 loss at Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City. The team said Ellis, who finished with 11 points, could have returned if the game hadn't been so one-sided.

The Warriors (11-16) need Ellis, Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright to shoot better against the Grizzlies after they went a combined 12 of 37 from the field against the Thunder. Golden State's shot a season-low 34.8 percent as a team.

"It's a make or miss league and we just missed some shots," coach Mark Jackson said after his team opened a stretch of eight of nine on the road. "It's the first time in a long time we've struggled to make shots."

Curry has been having that problem over the last four games, shooting 31.9 percent and averaging 10.5 points - nearly six below his season average of 16.4. He finished with 18 last month against Memphis, adding five assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Conley, who had 20 points and nine assists in that contest, is averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 assists during the Grizzlies' winning streak.

Memphis center Marc Gasol is averaging 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in the three straight victories. He had 16 points, 14 boards and eight assists Friday, but also turned the ball over a career high-tying seven times.

Warriors forward David Lee's string of double-doubles ended at three Friday when he finished with 23 points and six rebounds. Lee had 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in last month's loss to Memphis.

The Grizzlies have won 11 of 16 overall at FedExForum. Their last home loss to Golden State was a 117-86 defeat April 4, 2008.

Tony Allen lifts Grizzlies past Warriors, 104-103

Posted Feb 19 2012 12:10AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) For the second straight night, Rudy Gay misfired on a go-ahead attempt in the closing seconds - and the Memphis Grizzlies crashed the offensive boards for a winning tip-in.

Tony Allen put back Gay's miss with 5.6 seconds left to give the Grizzlies their fourth straight victory, 104-103 over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

"Rudy Gay causes so much attention when he's pulling up because he's hit so many game-winners and what not," Allen said. "(The Warriors) didn't box out. They just looked up at the rim. I looked at them, and I looked at Rudy as he shot it. I just went around Dorell Wright and got the tip. That's all. Wasn't nothing special about it."

Gay's miss came from the right side of the lane, the same side of the floor where he misfired on a jumper Friday night. Dante Cunningham got to the rim to tip that one, beating the Denver Nuggets 103-102.

The Warriors had one last shot after Allen's tip-in, but David Lee was called for an offensive foul with less than a second left, sending the Warriors to their third straight loss.

"The matter is, we didn't make the play, and the Grizzlies came up with the win," Lee said.

Gay led Memphis with 19 points, and O.J. Mayo had 18. Marc Gasol added 17 points and 13 rebounds, Marreese Speights had 16 points, Mike Conley finished with 15 points and six assists, and Allen had 11 points.

Despite the back-to-back heroics, no one in the Grizzlies locker room said they drew up the plays to result in winning tips or Gay missing for that matter.

"Tony bailed me out today," Gay said. "(Friday) it was Dante. I think next time, I have to make the shot."

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 36 points, matching his season high, as he connected on 13 of 21 shots in the game, including 6 of 9 outside the arc. Monta Ellis finished with 33 points, and Lee had 14 points and nine rebounds. Curry and Ellis each had six assists.

The game was close throughout the fourth quarter. Memphis had a five-point lead, but that was the biggest advantage either team had in the final period.

Part of that came from Memphis missing four straight free throws while trailing or tied.

There were eight ties and nine lead changes in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors took a 103-102 lead on Ekpe Udoh's two free throws with 28.1 seconds left, setting the stage for Allen's winner.

"Once again, we were in a position to win the ballgame, and we didn't because of a defensive rebound," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "That's the disappointing part of it."

Memphis connected on its first six shots, building an 18-point lead, en route to hitting 14 of its 20 shots in the first quarter.

Curry kept the Warriors close. He connected on five of his first six shots in the second quarter, including four from long range, and, with the help of Ellis, put pressure on Memphis by opening the period with a 24-8 run to erase the Grizzlies' advantage.

Golden State eventually would outscore Memphis 37-20 in the second period, helping the Warriors carry a 56-54 advantage into the halftime break.

The Warriors starting backcourt was a combined 15 of 26 in the half. Curry had 23 points at intermission, and Ellis added 17.

Memphis shot well at 59 percent, but the Grizzlies were hampered by 10 turnovers. Gasol and Speights had 11 points each for Memphis, and Gay scored 10 before the break.

The Grizzlies missed 10 of their first 13 shots in the third.

Memphis was able to whittle the advantage in the latter stages of the quarter, leaving the Warriors up 78-76 entering the fourth.

"It's just a game. It's fun to be out there and competing," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "It doesn't have to be pretty. It's just competition. You go out and grit it out and play together."

NOTES: Memphis wore its throwback Memphis Tams uniforms from the ABA days. Memphis is 2-2 in the jerseys... The game was the nightcap of a college-NBA doubleheader at the FedExForum. Earlier, UTEP beat Memphis 60-58. ... Curry had been held under 15 points in each of the previous four games. ... Memphis has won four straight in the series. ... Ellis had his most points since setting a career high with 48 on Feb. 7 against Oklahoma City.

Notebook: Grizzlies 104, Warriors 103

Posted Saturday February 18, 2012 11:58PM

By Marlon W. Morgan, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: It used to be that the Memphis Grizzlies used last second jumpers by Rudy Gay to win games. Now they've devised a way for Gay to miss the shot and get an offensive rebound to claim the same result. For the second straight night, Gay missed a jumper in the waning seconds, only to have a teammate, this time Tony Allen, get a tip-in with 5.6 seconds to left to beat Golden State, 104-103, at FedExForum. Warriors forward David Lee was called for a charge while driving to the basket on Golden State's final possession.

QUOTABLE: "Gay causes so much attention when he pulls up because he hits so many game winners. I was just at the right place at the right time. I looked at Gay as he shot it and just went around (Dorell) Wright and just got the tip. There wasn't anything special about it. I was just at the right place at the right time."
-- Allen on his game-winning tip.

THE STAT: One reason the Grizzlies have squandered big leads the last two nights is because of turnovers. The normally sure-handed Grizzlies have committed 19 turnovers in each of the last two games. On Friday night, it led to 28 points for Denver. The Warriors were able to turn the miscues into 27 points.

TURNING POINT: Like they did Friday night against Denver, the Grizzlies came out on fire, shooting 70 percent in the first quarter to lead 34-19. The lead eventually swelled to 18 before Golden State used a 14-0 run early in the second quarter, and eventually led 56-48 behind the lights out shooting of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis.

HOT: Ellis and Curry were on fire, particularly in the second quarter when they combined for 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range to help the Warriors turn an 18-point deficit into a 56-54 halftime lead. Curry finished with a game-high 36 points as he made 6 of 9 3-pointers, while Ellis added 33, going 4 for 8 from long range. They each added six assists.

NOT: Unfortunately, Golden State forward Wright couldn't get going. Wright, averaging 11 ppg, was 0 for 7 from the floor, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range, and finished with no points.

GOOD MOVE: Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins realized the second half was going to be a dogfight, so with his team trailing 77-75 late in the third quarter, Hollins went with five reserves -- O.J. Mayo, Jeremy Pargo, Dante Cunningham, Quincy Pondexter and Hamed Haddadi. The group not only stayed with the Warriors, but briefly regained the lead, allowing the starters to get an extended breather. When they returned with just over six minutes remaining, the score was tied at 84.

QUOTABLE II: "It's the little things that either win or lose ball games as we continue to find out. When it matters most, there should be five guys in the paint area chasing down that loose rebound. At the end of the day, Tony Allen wanted it. That's what winners do."
-- Golden State head coach Mark Jackson on his team losing yet another heartbreaker.

NOTABLE: The Grizzlies have now won four in a row, their longest streak since winning seven straight in January. They travel to Houston Monday, looking to extend the streak and beat the Rockets for a third time this season. ... The Warriors have now lost six straight games at FedExForum. They haven't won in Memphis since April 4, 2008. ... Golden State is now 1-6 in games decided by three points or less, two of which have been against Memphis. They lost to the Grizzlies at home, 91-90, in a game in which the Warriors led by 20 in the second half. ... For the second straight game, the Grizzlies had six players score in double figures. Gay led the way with 19 points, while center Marc Gasol had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Mayo added 18 points off the bench.

UP NEXT: For the Warriors, Monday vs. L.A. Clippers, Wednesday at Phoenix, Feb. 28 at Indiana. For the Grizzlies, Monday at Houston, Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, Feb. 29 vs. Dallas.

• Warriors: Brown
• Grizzlies: Arthur, Randolph, Selby

• Warriors: --
• Grizzlies: Gasol

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #79 Kevin Scott
• Attendance: 17151
• Duration: 2:28