Grizzlies-Trail Blazers Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Mar 21 2012 5:14PM

The struggling Memphis Grizzlies are in need of a spark and so far Zach Randolph hasn't been the answer.

Time to warm up the Hibachi.

Gilbert Arenas is expected to make his Grizzlies debut Thursday night when they visit the slumping Portland Trail Blazers.

After going 23-14 with Randolph sidelined with a torn MCL, Memphis (25-19) has dropped two of three since his return, beating Washington while losing to Toronto and Sacramento. The 2010 All-Star made his first start since New Year's Day in Tuesday's 119-110 loss to the Kings, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting and seven rebounds.

Rudy Gay had 23 points and Marc Gasol added 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Grizzlies, who have lost four of six after winning nine of 10.

"I don't want to talk about any individual person," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "All I want to talk about is that we got our butts kicked because we did not play hard and did not play together."

Memphis, which has struggled to find the right chemistry since Randolph's return, could again have some trouble with the addition of a new player.

The Grizzlies signed Arenas, waived by Orlando in December through the new amnesty clause, on Tuesday for the remainder of the season. The 30-year-old Arenas has averaged 21.2 points and 5.4 assists in his nine-year career, but knee injuries have prevented the three-time All-Star from again living up to the "Hibachi" nickname he bestowed upon himself for his ability to heat up quickly.

Arenas averaged 10.8 points on 36.6 percent shooting last season for Washington and Orlando.

Memphis isn't expecting Arenas to perform like he did in his prime, but he should provide depth behind point guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Tony Allen.

Conley and Allen each struggled mightily in the Grizzlies' lone meeting with the Trail Blazers, a 97-84 loss in Portland on Jan. 24. The two combined for 14 points on 7-of-23 shooting as Memphis fell to the Blazers for the fourth time in five games.

Portland (21-25) is hoping to rebound from Tuesday's 116-87 loss to Milwaukee, running its average margin of defeat in its past five losses to 24.4 points. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Wesley Matthews also scored 21 for the Blazers, who've dropped nine of 12.

"We got to play with more effort," Aldridge said. "We got back-doored like four or five times. We've got to fight through screens, our bigs have to be up on the screens. I feel like we didn't do that. We just worried about trying to outscore them. Our defense wasn't there."

Portland hasn't had much of a defensive presence lately, surrendering at least 111 points in three of its last four games. The Blazers are allowing an average of 103.8 points in 12 games since the All-Star break after giving up an average of 92.5 in their previous 15.

That lack of defense usually spells certain doom for the Blazers, who have lost their last 16 games when allowing their opponent to reach the century mark.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have scored at least 110 points in three of their last four but have lost all three - two in overtime. They had won their first 12 games when cracking triple digits.

Gay is leading Memphis' recent scoring surge by averaging 26.5 points in his last three games - 7.3 better than his team-leading average.

Batum leads Blazers to 97-93 win over Grizzlies

By ANNE M. PETERSON
Posted Mar 23 2012 2:07AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) This season is not a lost cause to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nicolas Batum had 24 points and the new-look Blazers held off the Memphis Grizzlies 97-93 on Thursday night. Jamal Crawford added 17 points, including four clutch free throws in the final seconds as Portland snapped a two-game skid to even to 2-2 under interim head coach Kaleb Canales.

There had been plenty of speculation that the obviously rebuilding Blazers were just hoping to finish out the season the best they could after dismissing head coach Nate McMillan and trading away a pair of starters. The Blazers went into the night with nine losses in their last 12 games.

"We never felt like that," LaMarcus Aldridge proclaimed after scoring 16 points in the win.

Marc Gasol's layup for Memphis narrowed it to 91-88 with 2:15 to go. Neither side could get a shot to fall as time wound down, but Wesley Matthews made two free throws for Portland before Mike Conley's 3-pointer kept the Grizzlies close at 93-91.

Crawford's two free throws with 13 seconds left gave Portland some cushion and after O.J. Mayo made a layup for the Grizzlies, Crawford added two more for the final margin.

Rudy Gay missed a 3 at the buzzer for Memphis.

"We're still in this," said Matthews, who had 18 points and nine rebounds. "We fully believe will make the playoffs."

Gasol finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost four of their last five games.

Memphis saw the debut of Gilbert Arenas, who was signed Tuesday for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old guard has not played since finishing last season with the Orlando Magic.

Arenas has averaged 21.2 points and 5.4 assists per game in his nine-year career, but has been slowed considerably by knee injuries. The Magic acquired Arenas from Washington last season, but used the NBA's amnesty cause to waive him in December.

"Before today I didn't know I was playing," he said. "Leaving Memphis I thought I was gonna be inactive until I got myself in shape, but they told me right before the game I was going to get thrown right into the fire."

Arenas gave himself an average grade, finishing with two points and two assists in 11 minutes

"I thought I did all right for coming off the couch," he said. "All I want to do is help the team out, play some defense and not embarrass myself out there."

J.J. Hickson was in uniform but did not play for the Blazers. The 6-foot-9 forward as waived by Sacramento on Tuesday and claimed by Portland on Wednesday.

It was the latest of a serious of moves by the Blazers. In addition to dismissing head coach McMillan, Portland traded starters Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace at the deadline. Often-injured former No. 1 draft Greg Oden was also let go.

Hickson played 35 games for the Kings, averaging 4.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.4 minutes, but he had been limited in the last 10 games because of back spasms. The Blazers activated him shortly before the game.

The Blazers made all 25 of their free throw attempts. It was the most they'd made without a miss since they went 30-for-30 on Nov. 30, 1986 at Indiana.

"It felt good. It felt really good," said Crawford, who did his part by making all 10 of his foul shots. "It reminded me of the beginning (of the season) and the times we had really big wins against good teams. Hopefully we can see more of that but that's on us to go out and perform."

The Blazers led by seven points in the first quarter, but the Grizzlies closed in midway through the second and former Blazer Zach Randolph put Memphis in front 37-36 with 4:53 left in the half.

Batum answered with a 3 to put the Blazers back in front and Portland led 49-44 at the break.

Randolph, who played for the Blazers from 2001-07, appeared in his fourth game since missing 37 with a torn right MCL. He led the Grizzlies with 12 points at the break.

Gasol's dunk made it 57-all and he added a free throw to put Memphis in front before Conely made two straight jumpers to go up 62-57.

The Grizzlies led by seven points before Portland rallied to take a 73-71 lead on Crawford's turnaround jumper.

Portland stretched the advantage to 81-74 on Aldridge's tip-in before Memphis narrowed it on Tony Allen's tip and 3-pointer.

Allen's 3 pulled the Grizzlies to 83-82 with 4:39 left, but after Aldridge hit a pair of free throws, Matthews' 3 made it 88-82 for the Blazers.

"We made a couple of mistakes," Gasol said. "Had a couple of turnovers, missed a couple of shots, didn't execute the way we wanted to. And that was the game."

NOTES: Oden, who was released by the Blazers last week after five injury-marred seasons in Portland, thanked the team and their fans on Facebook: "As I move forward in a new direction, I am committed to pursuing my goals of getting back on the court and I will always hold a special place in my heart for the state and people of Oregon."

Notebook: Blazers 97, Grizzlies 93

Posted Friday March 23, 2012 1:34AM

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford combined to hit six straight free throws in the final 21 seconds to cinch Portland's 97-93 victory over Memphis Thursday night at the Rose Garden.

Nicolas Batum scored 17 of his game-high 24 points for the Blazers (22-25), who also got 18 points and nine rebounds from Matthews.

Marc Gasol collected 22 points and nine boards for the Grizzlies (25-20), who lost for the fourth time in five games.

QUOTABLE: "The last two games, I didn't play aggressive. Now I have to step up. I'm the No. 2 option now. I have to do a better job. I have to play like a go-to guy almost. I just tried to be aggressive all night."
-- Batum, who had scored 18 total points in the previous games against Oklahoma City and Milwaukee.

THE STAT: Portland won the game at the 3-point and free-throw lines. The Blazers made 10 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc and were 25 of 25 from the foul line. Memphis was 3 for 8 on 3-pointers and 16 for 23 on gift shots.

TURNING POINT: Memphis led 71-66 early in the fourth quarter when the Blazers, fueled by Matthews, Crawford and Batum, went on a 15-3 run. The Grizzlies never again got even.

HOT: Memphis' Zach Randolph was 5 for 5 and scored 12 points in the first half.

NOT: Randolph was 0 for 5 and went scoreless in the second half.

QUOTABLE II: "We're a little dead right now ... we relax too much (on defense). It's energy and effort, our focus and our discipline. Our discipline is out the window."
-- Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The crowd announced at 20,636 is the 182nd straight sellout dating to December 2007.

GOOD MOVE: The Blazers found Matthews at the 3-point line three times in the fourth quarter. He sank all three.

BAD MOVE: The Grizzlies twice fouled Crawford in the game's closing seconds. Crawford -- third in the NBA in free-throw percentage at .915 -- calmly swished four in a row from the line.

QUOTABLE III: "We came to defend for 48 minutes. We were what we needed to be tonight. We played with resolve. We executed. We got the ball to the people we wanted to get the ball to down the stretch."
-- Portland interim head coach Kaleb Canales.

NOTABLE: It was only the fourth win in the last 11 home games for Portland, now 15-8 at the Rose Garden.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, at L.A. Lakers Friday, Golden State Sunday, Oklahoma City Tuesday. For the Grizzlies, at L.A. Clippers Saturday, at L.A. Lakers Sunday, Minnesota Tuesday.

• Grizzlies: Arthur
• Trail Blazers: Williams, Williams

• Grizzlies: Gasol
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #31 Scott Wall
• Attendance: 20636
• Duration: 2:20