Heat-Grizzlies Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Nov 10 2012 6:55PM

With their two biggest stars ailing, the Miami Heat might not be at full strength in a matchup between two of the league's hottest teams.

That could make things difficult for the defending champs on Sunday night when they visit a Memphis Grizzlies team looking for a fifth straight victory.

The Heat (5-1), who have also won four in a row, might have to play again without star Dwyane Wade. The All-Star guard is considered day-to-day as he recovers from an illness that sidelined him in Friday's 95-89 win at Atlanta.

Mike Miller, who started against the Hawks, and Ray Allen would likely share the shooting guard duties if Wade sits out again.

While LeBron James may not be 100 percent, he is expected to give it a go after banging knees with Atlanta's Josh Smith in the first half. The reigning MVP stayed in and finished with 21 points, including the clinching jumper with 13.6 seconds remaining.

"It's a little sore right now," he said after the game. "I knew I would get through it. It would take a lot for me not to go back out there with my teammates."

Rudy Gay, who also hurt his knee against the Los Angeles Clippers in the season opener, appears to be fine after leading Memphis with 21 points in Friday's 93-85 victory over Houston.

Zach Randolph finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds for his fifth double-double in as many games. The 6-foot-9 forward ranks among the league leaders in rebounding with an average of 15.0.

The Grizzlies (4-1), one of the league's best rebounding teams at 44.8 per game, seem to make the most of their work on the boards. They're shooting 42.9 percent from the field, but are still averaging 100.0 points.

"We aren't a team that shoots it well all the time, but we always give forth the effort," point guard Mike Conley said.

If Wade and James aren't at full strength, Miami will likely turn to Chris Bosh to pick up the slack. Bosh stepped up with 24 points and made all 10 of his free throws against the Hawks.

Allen added 17 points off the bench and was 3 of 5 from behind the 3-point arc. He has hit at least one 3-pointer in every game and has scored in double figures in three of his last four.

The Heat are one of the league's highest scoring teams at 107.5 points, but they could certainly use their full lineup against a Grizzlies team that is limiting opponents to an average of 90.8 points during its winning streak.

Tony Allen figures to play a key role in defending the Heat after he helped hold James Harden, who entered the night leading the league in scoring at 30.3 points, to just 4-of-18 shooting from the field.

Despite all of Miami's success, the Grizzlies have won six of the last nine meetings, including three of four in Memphis.

"You have to fight for wins on the road. They never come easy," Erik Spoelstra said after Friday's win.

Grizzlies beat Heat 104-86 for 5th straight win

By TERESA M. WALKER
Posted Nov 11 2012 9:56PM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Miami Heat focused on shutting down Memphis' inside scoring duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Grizzlies reserve guard Wayne Ellington made them pay dearly for it.

Ellington had career bests with seven 3-pointers and 25 points, leading the Grizzlies over the Heat 104-86 on Sunday for their fifth straight win and the best start in franchise history.

"I don't think Ellington will be able to sneak in the back door anymore," Miami center Chris Bosh said. "I didn't know he could shoot the ball like that. We know now."

The Grizzlies (5-1) snapped Miami's four-game winning streak while topping the 4-1 start in 2000-01 in this franchise's last season in Vancouver. They also extended their own team-record home winning streak to 14 dating to last season.

Rudy Gay added 21 points and Zach Randolph had his sixth double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis. Mike Conley had 18 points and nine assists, while Marc Gasol added 10 rebounds and six assists.

"We played outstanding basketball," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

Bosh scored 22 points and LeBron James had 20 for Miami. Dwyane Wade came in averaging 20.4 points but was held to eight in his first game back after missing Friday night's win at Atlanta with a cold. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said they expected teams to be coming after the Heat on this six-game road trip.

"There were critical places in where the game turned like sloppy turnovers, missed shots or big baskets that couldn't get us over that hump," Spoelstra said. "They played very well. They played physical, and they did what they needed to do to bring it home."

Memphis never trailed and the Heat managed to tie it only twice, the last at 14-all.

The Grizzlies had the biggest edge in this game beyond the arc, where they went 14 of 24 (58.3 percent), and at one point were shooting a better percentage from outside the arc than the Heat shot at the free throw line. Miami came in as the league's second-best team at the line, averaging 82.9 percent, but finished 22 of 36 (61.1 percent).

James said their game plan was protecting the paint.

"They are close to last in 3-pointers made and 3-pointers attempted per game," James said. "We paid for it today. They shot the ball extremely well."

The Grizzlies led 22-21 after the first quarter then Ellington scored 16 in the second to help Memphis outscore Miami 34-20 in the period. When Miami pulled to 42-40, Hollins took a timeout with 2:36 left. The Grizzlies responded with a 14-1 run for a 56-41 halftime lead.

This was a game Ellington thought he could have in the right situation after helping North Carolina win the 2009 NCAA national title. The Grizzlies traded Dante Cunningham to Minnesota on July 24, wanting to add Ellington's outside shooting to their bench.

"I think right here is a great situation for me where I got ... those guys down low, and they need a guy that can really knock down shots," said Ellington, who finished 8 of 13 from the floor and 7 of 11 beyond the arc.

Randolph called this "a statement game" for the Grizzlies. They visit Oklahoma City, the defending Western Conference champs, on Wednesday night before hosting the undefeated New York Knicks on Friday. When asked about the Grizzlies having the Thunder and Knicks, Gay had a quick answer.

"They have us," he said.

Miami had a 25-20 edge in the third quarter but never got closer than when Bosh hit a pull-up jumper with 6:45 left to pull the Heat to 63-58.

The Grizzlies had their chances to wilt against Miami in the fourth. Jerryd Bayless threw up a ball that never came close to the rim - if it was even a shot attempt - but Gay got a hand on it and tipped it to Randolph, who scored and converted on the three-point play for an 85-75 lead with 8:07 left.

Ray Allen tried to get the Heat going, running down court for a dunk only to be blocked by Bayless. Ellington capped the fast break going the other way with his sixth 3-pointer for an 88-76 lead with 7:20 left, bringing fans to their feet.

There was a time when the Heat came to town with enough fans in the stands to make the visit to Memphis feel almost like a home away from home. Not anymore as even Shane Battier, beloved for his time in Memphis, was booed during introductions with fans cheering as his first 3-point attempt went in and out.

Notes: This marked the seventh time in the Heat's Big Three era that they have allowed at least 14 3s in a game, and they now are 1-6 in those contests. ... It was the most 3s by the Grizzlies in the last 345 games, including playoffs. ... The Heat went 1 of 7 at the line in the first quarter, the NBA's worst free-throw shooting in that period since Golden State was 1 of 9 against Utah on Nov. 4, 2006, with a minimum of seven attempts. ... Ellington's previous career high had been 18 twice, last on Feb. 16, 2011 against the Clippers. ... The Grizzlies now are 4-0 when scoring at least 100 points this season. ... Memphis now has won three of four against Miami since James and Bosh joined the Heat in the summer of 2010.

Notebook: Grizzlies 104, Heat 86

Marlon W. Morgan, For NBA.com
Posted Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:02 PM - Updated Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:02 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat came into Memphis intent on neutralizing the Grizzlies' inside game of center Marc Gasol and forward Zach Randolph, and they were effective at doing so. What they underestimated, though, was the strength of the Grizzlies perimeter. The Grizzlies made it rain with long-range shots, knocking in 14 from 3-point range to blow away the Heat 104-86 Sunday night at FedExForum. The leading marksman was backup guard Wayne Ellington, who was 7-for-11 from long range, and finished with a career- and game-high 25 points for the Grizzlies, who never trailed.

QUOTABLE: "Last time I felt like that was in college [at North Carolina]. It's been awhile, so it felt good to be back in that zone. I'm starting to get a lot [more] comfortable. Everybody's in it for one reason. We have the same goal. We're all just out here grinding and working everyday. We're taking in game by game to get wins."

-- Grizzlies guard Wayne Ellington

THE STAT: The Grizzlies are now 5-1 for the first time in franchise history. The 4-1 record they had entering the game was their first since the 2000-01 season, which was their final season in Vancouver.

TURNING POINT: With the Heat pulling to within 85-76 midway through the fourth quarter, Grizzlies guard Jerryd Bayless turned the ball over leading to a potential Miami fastbreak. But, as Ray Allen rose up for the layup, Bayless came out of nowhere to block the shot. Rudy Gay scooped up the rebound, found Ellington with an outlet pass and he then drained a jumper for the big momentum builder. That was the start of a 13-0 run that put the game away.

HOT: As a team, the Grizzlies entered the game shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. Against the Heat, from the time Gay started the game hitting a desperation 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, until the end, they were on fire. The Grizzlies were 14-for-24 from the 3-point line. The last time the Grizzlies made at least 14 from 3-point land in a game was April 2, 2008, against New York when they hit 15.

NOT: The Heat had no problem getting to the free-throw line as they shot 36 attempts. The problem was they only made 22 to finish at 61 percent. LeBron James was 0-for-4.

QUOTABLE II: "We knew we were going to have a job on our hands with Z-Bo and Gasol. We tried to help out [the] bigs as much as possible down there trying to snag rebounds, but a few loose balls got away from us. They hit a few 3s. Then, Wayne got going and hit some back-burning 3s, as well. Then, they hit a few at the end of the shot clock, too. They played well. We move on to the next one."

-- Miami forward LeBron James.

NOTABLE: The Heat (5-2) saw their four-game winning streak come to halt. Memphis, meanwhile, has won five in a row since losing their season opener at the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies also extended their franchise-record, regular-season home winning streak to 14 games dating back to last season. ... The Grizzlies' bench outscored the Heat's bench 41-26. Ellington and forward Marreese Speights have nicknamed the reserves group, "The Zoo Crew." ... It was a rough night for Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who returned to the lineup after missing Miami's last game at Atlanta. Wade missed 12 of his 15 shots and finished with just eight points. Since James and Chris Bosh joined Miami, the Grizzlies are 3-1 against the Heat, the last two meeting resulting in blowout wins for Memphis. .. The Heat entered the game leading the NBA in scoring with 107.5 ppg. ... James and Bosh were the extent of Miami's offense. Bosh led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds, while James had 20 to go with 10 boards and six assists. For the Grizzlies, Gay finished with 21 points, while Mike Conley had 18 and Randolph posted his sixth straight double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. ... Gasol had a season-low two points on 1-for-6 shooting, but did grab 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Monday @ Houston, Wednesday @ L.A. Clippers, Thursday @ Denver. For the Grizzlies, Wednesday @ Oklahoma City, Friday vs. New York, Saturday @ Charlotte.

• Heat: Harris, Pittman
• Grizzlies: --

• Heat: Chalmers
• Grizzlies: Gasol

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #34 Kevin Cutler, #35 Kane Fitzgerald
• Attendance: 18119
• Duration: 2:15