Grizzlies-Suns Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Mar 09 2012 2:24PM

For a while, it seemed the Memphis Grizzlies might not follow up the promise of last season's impressive finish. They're quickly erasing those concerns and must feel good about continuing to do so with their top player nearing a return.

Only two Western Conference teams have a better record than Memphis, which enters Saturday night's road game against the Phoenix Suns seeking a sixth consecutive victory.

A 46-win season in 2010-11 and a playoff upset of top-seeded San Antonio had Grizzlies fans excited going into this winter, but an inconsistent first six weeks and an injury to Zach Randolph tempered that optimism.

However, just over a month after a 2-7 slump left them with the West's fifth-worst record, the Grizzlies (23-15) now sit below only Oklahoma City and the Spurs.

They've won five straight and nine of 10 even with Randolph sidelined by a torn knee ligament. The 2011 All-Star, Memphis' top scorer and rebounder last season, has been out since Jan. 1 but recently returned to practice and could play as early as Tuesday against the Lakers.

The Grizzlies' starting frontcourt has been doing pretty well without him.

Marc Gasol has averaged 18.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during the five-game winning streak. Marreese Speights, starting in Randolph's place, has 34 points and 14 boards over the past two games. Rudy Gay is averaging a team-high 19.1 points and matched a season high with 26 on Wednesday in a 110-92 win over Golden State, also grabbing 12 rebounds for the second time in three games.

That victory opened a three-game trip for Memphis, which has won three of its past four road contests while averaging 102.5 points. The Grizzlies failed to reach 100 in any of their first 14, going 5-9 and scoring 86.7 per game.

"If you want to be a good team, you have to win on the road," Gasol said. "You have to come out, execute and be mentally stronger. We're taking steps forward, baby steps, it's a process."

The Suns (18-21) seem to be going in the right direction, too. They've won six of eight and their only loss in five games this month came at West-leading Oklahoma City on Wednesday after blowing a 16-point lead in the second half.

Phoenix returned home the following night to knock off defending champion Dallas 96-94, but remained in 12th place in the West.

"We couldn't lose both of these and stay in the playoff picture," said Steve Nash, who had 11 assists and is averaging a league-best 10.9. "It's an early crunch time for us. We've got to keep crawling back to that eight-nine-ten spots and try to give ourselves a chance to sneak in there."

Jared Dudley has keyed the Suns' 6-2 surge, scoring 16.6 points per game on 53.5 percent shooting.

Marcin Gortat also continues to play well, averaging 18.7 points and 12.1 rebounds in his last 12. He posted his fourth straight double-double Thursday and is among the league leaders with 24.

Gasol limited his effectiveness in these teams' only meeting this season as Gortat, among the NBA's best in field-goal accuracy at 55.8 percent, shot 6 for 17. The Suns were held to 36.4 percent but won 86-84 as Dudley capped a 20-point night by hitting the go-ahead free throws with 3.3 seconds left.

Phoenix is riding a four-game home winning streak, its longest in nearly two years.

Dudley leads Suns to 98-91 win over Grizzlies

Posted Mar 11 2012 1:45AM

PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns are making a habit of rallying from big deficits.

Jared Dudley scored 19 points to lead six Phoenix players in double figures and the Suns came back from 11 points down in the first half to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 98-91 on Saturday night.

It was Phoenix's fifth straight home win and the Suns' fifth straight overall in which they won after trailing by double digits.

"I think we're adjusting as the game goes along and finding ways to get ourselves going snd usually someone gives us a lift," Phoenix's Steve Nash said.

Marcin Gortat added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Suns, Grant Hill had 14 points, Steve Nash and Robin Lopez scored 11 each, and Channing Frye had 10. Nash also had 15 assists. Phoenix's home winning streak is its longest since winning the final eight home games of the 2009-10 season.

"We start slow because of our age (the Suns are one of the NBA's oldest teams) and maybe because a lack of focus," Gortat said.

Marc Gasol had 21 points and Rudy Gay scored 19 on 7-for-20 shooting for Memphis. The surprising Grizzlies, one of the top teams in the Western Conference, were 4-0 since the All-Star break and had won five straight overall.

The Grizzlies were outrebounded 52-35, including 17-9 on offensive boards. Memphis was 15 for 19 on free throws, while Phoenix was 12 for 15.

"We gave up 17 offensive rebounds and we did not get to the free throw line (enough)," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry was pleased with his team's performance.

"That one felt real good," he said. "We beat a really good team that probably is playing as well as anyone in the league right now. The big thing that makes me the happiest is we are doing it on the defensive end."

As it it, the Suns are enjoying one of their best defensive showings in years.

"They started making shots in that second quarter," Memphis' Mike Conley said. "They started getting into their flow. I think we played at their pace a little too much in that second quarter and going on to the second half. They were able to control the tempo and beat us down the court."

The Suns didn't lead in the first half until the closing minute when Dudley capped a personal 9-0 run with a 3-pointer - Phoenix's first 3 of the game- for a 51-48 advantage. Gay came back with a 3 of his own, tying the score, before Robin Lopez gave Phoenix a 53-51 halftime lead with a layup with 4.6 seconds left.

Memphis controlled the game early, twice opening 11-point leads in the second quarter. The Grizzlies, playing a more uptempo game since Zach Randolph went out with a torn ligament four games into the season, were running their fastbreak efficiently and capitalizing on 10 Suns turnovers, which resulted in 13 points.

In addition, Gasol was scoring from all angles, finishing the half with 14 points, and Michael Conley was playing almost as well as his heralded counterpart, All-Star Steve Nash. Conley had eight assists in the first two periods, while Nash, the league leader, had 10.

With Dudley continuing his strong shooting with four more field goals in the third quarter, the Suns extended their lead at the end of the period to 80-74. The Suns were also winnning the rebounding matchup, 38-21 at that point.

NOTES: Conley leads the league in steals and could become the first Memphis player to lead the NBA in a statistical category. ... The Suns' starting lineup of Nash, Dudley, Gortat, Hill, Dudley and Channing Frye began the game with a plus-155 rating when playing together - the best in the NBA. ... The Grizzlies lead the league in steals and turnovers forced, after leading in both categories last season. ... The Suns are holding opponents to fewer than 100 points per game; the last time they did that was the 2003-04 season.

Notebook: Suns 98, Grizzlies 91

Posted Sunday March 11, 2012 12:21AM

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Phoenix Suns are starting to look like a playoff team.

In arguably their most impressive win of the season, the Suns whipped the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 98-91, Saturday night in Phoenix.

The Suns (19-21), winners of seven of their past nine, have pulled within two games of .500 for the firs time since they were 4-6 on Jan. 12.

On Saturday, they beat one of the NBA's hottest teams; the Grizzlies (23-16) had won nine of 10. In addition, the Grizzlies had been resting and waiting in Phoenix since late Wednesday night, after a win at Golden State.

The Suns got 19 points and seven rebounds from off guard Jared Dudley and 15 assists from Steve Nash. They also got a big boost off the bench from Robin Lopez (11 points, seven boards), who is starting to play a bit like he did two seasons ago, when he helped the Suns on a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals.

The Grizzlies got 21 points, eight boards and five assists from Marc Gasol and 19 points from Rudy Gay. But Gay, guarded by Grant Hill, shot just 7-for-20.

QUOTABLE: "That felt good. We beat a really good team that is probably playing as well as anyone in the league. We did a good job on Gasol ... who is as smart as any player in the league. Marcin (Gortat) did a good job on him. Robin did a great job on him."
-- Suns coach Alvin Gentry.

THE STAT: The Suns have won five straight home games. In all of them, they trailed by 10-plus points. No NBA team has done this since 1998.

TURNING POINT: The Suns trailed 46-35 midway through the second quarter. But they went on a 16-2 run, much of it fueled by their starters as they re-entered the game. They ended up with a 53-51 halftime lead.

QUOTABLE II: "He's become a different player. Other players have to retire when they start to lose their scoring ability. But he knows how to play without the ball. He tries to guard and to rebound ... I admire him."
-- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on the Suns Hill.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Suns celebrated Polish Heritage Night, with the festivities organized in part by Suns' center Gortat, (aka "The Polish Hammer"). The Suns did the same thing last year, though it was done quickly and without the planning that went into Saturday night's event, Gortat said. "We had a lot of guests ... a lot of famous Polish people ... It's amazing we are so far from home, and we can still get together."

GOOD MOVE: Playing Hakim Warrick over the slump-ridden Markieff Morris as the backup at power forward behind Channing Frye in the second half. Warrick's energy and ability to get to the free-throw line helped get the Suns over the top.

BAD MOVE: Playing Morris in the first half. After another ineffective outing (0-for-3, two fouls), Morris now is 4-for-29 (13 percent) and is averaging 1.7 points over his last seven games.

NOTABLE: The Suns starting five of guards Nash and Dudley, forwards Hill and Frye and center Gortat had a plus-minus of plus 155 points heading into the game. That's the best among any group of five in the NBA. No other group in the Western Conference has a plus-100. That the Suns are still struggling to get to .500 speaks to the inconsistency of the Suns' reserves (though the Suns are 12-8 since returning to this starting lineup on Jan. 28. The Suns are getting bench production lately from Sebastian Telfair in relief of Nash, Shannon Brown (who gives them scoring) and Lopez (defense). But Morris continues to struggle and Michael Redd seems more suited to starting rather than playing in short bursts off the bench.

UP NEXT: For the Grizzlies, Sunday @ Denver, Tuesday vs. Lakers and Friday vs. Raptors. For the Suns, Monday vs. Timberwolves, Wednesday vs. Jazz and Thursday at Los Angeles Clippers.

• Grizzlies: Arthur, Randolph
• Suns: --

• Grizzlies: --
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #42 Eric Lewis, #72 JT Orr
• Attendance: 16350
• Duration: 2:06