Grizzlies-Nuggets Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Mar 11 2012 3:04AM

The Memphis Grizzlies couldn't sustain a strong start in their last game. They haven't allowed one to slip away against their next opponent this season.

In a matchup of teams playing well since the All-Star break, the Grizzlies look to sweep the season series from the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.

Memphis and Denver are battling for playoff position in the Western Conference. The fifth-place Grizzlies (23-16) are one game up on the Nuggets (23-18), aided by two close wins against them this season.

On Jan. 31, Memphis prevailed 100-97 in overtime after rallying from a 12-point deficit with 9 minutes left in regulation. The Grizzlies then held on for a 103-102 victory over Denver on Feb. 17 after the Nuggets came back from a 23-point deficit.

Both games were in Memphis, however, and Denver is eager for a measure of revenge at home. The Nuggets have won five of six overall since the All-Star break.

"We need to pay Memphis because they stole (games) twice," forward Nene told the Nuggets' official website. "We need to come in here with a lot of hustle, energy and play hard. We hope the fans support us with a lot of energy and enthusiasm to help us win the next game."

The Grizzlies have been playing well, though. They suffered their first post-All-Star break loss after falling 98-91 at Phoenix on Saturday. Memphis had won five straight, including the first four games out of the break.

The Grizzlies' previous two wins were by a combined 35 points and they led for most of the first half against the Suns, but went into the break down 53-51.

Memphis pulled within seven late, but went scoreless in the final two minutes. Marc Gasol had 21 points - just two in the fourth quarter - and Rudy Gay scored 19 on 7-for-20 shooting. It was the Grizzlies' fewest points in five games.

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

Gasol led the Grizzlies in their two wins over Denver, averaging 18.0 points and 13.5 rebounds. He also had six blocks.

Denver is three games into a season-high, nine-game homestand and looking to continue a hot stretch of its own.

Arron Afflalo scored 28 points and Al Harrington added 20 and 10 rebounds in a 110-97 win over New Orleans on Friday. The Nuggets shot 56.2 percent, but couldn't pull away until the third quarter.

The first three opponents on Denver's homestand - Sacramento, Cleveland and New Orleans - weren't terribly intimidating, but the stretch gets more difficult beginning Sunday. The Nuggets' next five opponents are all in playoff contention.

"We've got to continue to play better," coach George Karl said. "All the teams coming in here now are playoff teams. There's going to be some great games. Hopefully we can take the energy of (the New Orleans game) and move it into a better place on Sunday."

Denver struggled to control the paint in both losses to Memphis and will try to do a better job Sunday. A key to that could be Danilo Gallinari, who missed the last meeting after scoring eight points on 1-of-10 shooting in the first.

Gallinari, though, appears to still be feeling the effects of a severely sprained ankle that kept him out for a month, averaging 6.0 points on 5-of-20 shooting in three games since returning.

Mayo scores 22 to lead Grizzlies past Nuggets

Posted Mar 12 2012 12:12AM

DENVER (AP) Sitting quietly at his locker, Andre Miller tore the stat sheet into shreds and put the bits of paper in the trash.

He knew that the last of his six turnovers cost the Denver Nuggets a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds.

O.J. Mayo also was mad at himself for committing six turnovers, but at least he could take satisfaction - and considerable satisfaction at that - in his shooting touch.

Mayo matched his season high with 22 points, including a critical 3-pointer in the closing seconds and the Memphis Grizzlies hung on to beat the Nuggets 94-91 on Sunday night to sweep the three-game regular-season series for the first time in their history.

"I definitely did have it going," said Mayo, who came off the bench. "So mad, had so many turnovers. I know how important it is to take care of the ball when you're playing the one (position) and I failed in that area. I'm happy it didn't cause us to lose."

Mike Conley, who returned to play after suffering a cut above his right eye, had 13 points. Dante Cunningham added 12 points and Tony Allen 10 for the Grizzlies, who also snapped an eight-game losing streak in Denver.

"O.J. was super. He carried us tonight," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "He was the man. I was really upset with our guys early. I didn't take them out to rest them. I took them out because we weren't competing like I thought we should. As soon as that other group came in, they got us back in the game. I could see I was going to need the bench a lot more tonight and they produced. It was good to see."

Nene, Al Harrington and Corey Brewer each scored 15 for the Nuggets, who dropped to 2-2 on a season-high nine-game homestand.

Memphis stretched its lead to 85-80 after Allen hit a 21-foot jumper with 6:20 remaining. But the Nuggets fought back to within a point at 88-87 when Ty Lawson connected on a 3-pointer with 2:55 left.

The teams traded free throw shots over the next two minutes before Mayo drained a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining to put the Grizzlies up 94-89.

Nene and Brewer each hit one of their two free throws in the final 40 seconds, pulling the Nuggets within three. After a Memphis miss, Denver rushed up the floor in the waning seconds but failed to get off shot after Miller lost the ball.

"I just fumbled the ball, that's all," said Miller, who also had 14 points, three steals and seven assists. "In that case, you don't want to give the team an opportunity to set up on defense. I fumbled the ball and that was the game."

Nuggets coach George Karl afterward had second thoughts about his strategy to push the ball upcourt immediately after Harrington rebounded Cunningham's missed shot with about 9 seconds remaining.

"In hindsight, I should have called a timeout," Karl said.

The bottom line for Karl, though, was that the Nuggets, who had 24 turnovers, committed too many giveaways, a thread that ran through all three of their losses to the defensive-minded Grizzlies.

"We lose because we throw away too many possessions," Karl said.

Memphis had 21 turnovers of its own, but still managed to come out on top.

"This is a tough environment to play in, a tough team to play," Conley said of the Nuggets. "They've been playing very well. This is a huge win for us."

Trailing 58-55 after Nene made a pair of free throws, Memphis went on a 14-1 tear to grab a 69-59 lead with 3:35 left in the third, their biggest lead to that point. But they lost Mike Conley during the surge, when he had to leave the game for the locker room to have a cut over his right eye treated. Conley returned early in the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets got back into it with a 9-0 run of their own, capped by Arron Afflalo's 20-foot jumper pulling Denver to within 69-68. Mayo hit a long jumper to stall Denver's momentum and the Grizzlies held a 73-70 lead going into the fourth.

Denver led 53-50 at halftime, helped by Nene, who broke through for a pair of dunks and hit two free throws during the last 2:18 of the second period.

Notes: The Nuggets' Timofey Mozgov (left ankle), Kosta Koufos (left knee) and Rudy Fernandez (lower back) remain sidelined. ... Memphis has won 10 of its last 12 games. ... Denver was playing the first of five straight games against winning teams. Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Boston and Dallas are next. ... All three of Memphis' wins over Denver this season were by three or fewer points.

Notebook: Grizzlies 94, Nuggets 91

Posted Monday March 12, 2012 12:53AM

Michael Kelly, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: With the starters battling foul trouble and bumps and bruises, the Memphis Grizzlies' bench came through. O.J. Mayo scored 22 points and dished out eight assists as the Grizzlies beat the Denver Nuggets 94-91 on Sunday night.

With Marc Gasol and Tony Allen saddled with four fouls and Mike Conley and Rudy Gay hampered by hits to the head, Mayo was the offensive force to help the Grizzlies win for the 10th time in their last 10 games.

Al Harrington, Nene and Corey Brewer scored 15 points apiece for the Nuggets, who were swept in the season series with the Grizzlies for the first time in franchise history.

QUOTABLE: "O.J. was super. He carried us tonight. He was the man."
-- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins

THE STAT: The Grizzlies forced 24 turnovers, the last one coming with 2.9 seconds left and the Nuggets trying to get a tying 3-pointer. In the three games against Memphis this year Denver averaged 18 turnovers.

TURNING POINT: Leading by two with a minute left, Mayo shook loose of Brewer, who was brought in to defend him. Mayo spotted up at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer to give the Grizzlies a 94-89 lead.

QUOTABLE II: "They are a scrappy team. They foul and get away with a lot of stuff. It's a good basketball play if you can get away with it."
-- Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, on the Memphis defense

HOT: Mayo in the second half. He scored 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting and had five assists. He came up with big baskets throughout to help Memphis maintain the lead for most of the second half. He also kept up his good run in games in Denver. Mayo is averaging 21.5 points in his last six games at Pepsi Center, where he set his career high with 40 on Nov. 1, 2009.

NOT: The Nuggets had numerous chances to steal this one back from the Grizzlies but hurt themselves with missed shots and turnovers. According to Nuggets coach George Karl, his team missed 32 shots in the paint.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Restricted free agent Wilson Chandler was in Pepsi Center and in Denver's locker room after the game. The Nuggets hold his rights but they haven't been able to come to an agreement on a contract.

GOOD MOVE: Hollins liked the way Mayo was playing at the end of the first half so he started him in the second half so he could build on that momentum. It proved to be a shrewd move when Mayo keyed a 12-1 run to give Memphis a 69-59 lead.

QUOTABLE III: "I definitely did have it going as far as a rhythm. I was so mad I had so many turnovers. I know how important it is when you're playing (point guard) to take care of the ball. I'm glad it didn't cost us a game."
-- Mayo, on his game

BAD MOVE: The Nuggets protected the paint but were slow to close out on the Memphis outside shooters. They also failed on three chances in the final 40 seconds to get the game within one by missing two free throws and a layup.

NOTABLE: Conley left the game midway through the third quarter with a cut over his right eye. He went to the locker room where he received three stitches. He returned three minutes into fourth. ... Lawson sprained his right foot in the second quarter but stayed in the game. X-rays after the game were negative. ... Memphis' three wins over Denver this year are by a combined seven points.

UP NEXT: For the Grizzlies, Tuesday vs. L.A. Lakers, Friday vs. Toronto, Sunday vs. Washington. For the Nuggets, Tuesday vs. Atlanta, Thursday vs. Oklahoma City, Saturday vs. Boston.

• Grizzlies: Arthur, Randolph
• Nuggets: Fernandez

• Grizzlies: Speights
• Nuggets: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #54 Nick Buchert, #71 Rodney Mott
• Attendance: 17737
• Duration: 2:17