Bucks-Grizzlies Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Dec 19 2012 12:38AM

It was a good thing the Memphis Grizzlies were able to prove why they're statistically the NBA's best defensive team their last time out given their shooting woes.

Memphis hopes for a much better offensive performance as it looks to beat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for the fifth straight time Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies (16-6) have bounced back from a season-worst three-game skid by winning their last two, though they shot only 37.5 percent and matched a season low for points in an 80-71 victory over Chicago on Monday.

They had six turnovers and shot 4 of 22 in the first quarter, but the bench picked things up in the second as Wayne Ellington scored all of his 11 points.

Mike Conley had a team-high 17 points while Zach Randolph (4 for 14, 10 points) and Rudy Gay (5 of 13, 12 points) each struggled to find their shooting touch.

"I thought it was huge what they did," Conley said of the reserves. "They came in and changed the game, changed the tempo. They got it going up and down a little bit. Got the ball movement where we like it to be.

"I think the first unit saw what they were doing, and what they were able to do. (The starters) got back in the game and tried to mimic it."

Memphis is shooting only 42.3 percent over its last five.

"We'll take it," said Randolph, who had 25 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday's 99-86 win at Utah. "It wasn't pretty, but we got the win."

The Grizzlies mainly shined on defense, setting new season bests for points allowed and opponent's field goal percentage (37.3). They're allowing an NBA-best 90.0 points per game.

"When you look at a game like this here, 37 percent shooting by both teams, I don't know how it looks to the fans but to me as a coach it's just a good basketball game," coach Lionel Hollins said. "They took away our big people and we were still fortunate to get a win. We'll take the win and get ready for Wednesday."

Randolph finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds and Conley added 13 points and 12 assists in the Grizzlies' 108-90 win at Milwaukee on Nov. 7, marking their fourth straight win in the series.

Brandon Jennings scored a team-high 19 points in that contest, though his best performance came Tuesday when he scored a season-high 34 in Milwaukee's 98-93 win over Indiana.

Mike Dunleavy scored 17 points off the bench after missing the previous seven games with a bruised left knee.

"I felt very comfortable out there," Dunleavy said. "I feel like my condition is a little bit down, but I felt good. I hate missing games, but it's good to be back and good to get a win."

The Bucks (13-10) have won five of six and bounced back from Saturday's 111-85 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when Jennings hit only 3 of 13 from the field and scored nine points.

He played 44 minutes Tuesday.

"Brandon was good from the get-go," Dunleavy said. "He made big shots and very big plays. That's why he's Brandon."

Jennings is averaging 22.8 points in five career games versus the Grizzlies, though he's shooting just 39.8 percent in those contests.

Randolph leads Memphis past Milwaukee 90-80

By CLAY BAILEY
Posted Dec 20 2012 1:41AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies' ramped up defensive pressure has led to some impressive wins.

Memphis held Milwaukee to a season-low in points and Tony Allen locked down Bucks leading-scorer Monta Ellis to help the Grizzlies win 90-80 Wednesday night.

Ellis, who entered the game averaging 19 points a game, missed his first 13 shots with Allen on him, and didn't score a field goal until 2:30 was left in the game. He ended the night with four points.

"I'm aware he's not hitting any on me. I'm aware of that," Allen said when asked if he realized Ellis was struggling. "He's a talented scorer. He'll jump out of that slump before you know it."

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins simply said: "Tony Allen's defense on Monta Ellis was outstanding."

Zach Randolph had 15 points and 17 rebounds, Marc Gasol added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis, which entered the game allowing a league-low 90 points a game. Rudy Gay added 13 points, Mike Conley had 11 points and six assists, while Marreese Speights scored 10 points.

Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee with 26 points, even though he missed his first eight shots. Marquis Daniels was the only other Bucks player in double figures with 12 points on 5 of 8 from the field.

"I said before the game if we could get it to where neither (Jennings nor Ellis) had a huge game, we'd be all right," Hollins said. "Nine of 26 for 26 points (from Jennings) is not a huge game to me."

Memphis benefited from an intense defense in the second half, causing 12 Bucks turnovers after halftime leading to 18 points. Memphis committed 10 of its 16 turnovers in the first half.

Milwaukee shot 35 percent for the game.

"It was tough," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said. "We had a ton of open looks. We just missed them. There's not much to say. We couldn't make a shot, and we were only down nine at halftime. It was tough."

While Ellis said it was "just a bad night," Jennings, who had his own shooting problems in the first half, noted Ellis' misfiring stymies the Bucks offense.

"He's our scorer, so he's the most important player on this team for us," Jennings said. "I know he's angry right now, but with great scorers like that you shouldn't be too worried because they always come back strong."

Both teams started the game shooting poorly as the Grizzlies hit just a third of their shots, while the Bucks were 6 of 26, including Ellis and Jennings, the Bucks two top scorers, missing all 12 of their combined shots in the first quarter.

Jennings missed eight shots before connecting, while Ellis missed all 10 of his in the half.

"That's a game-changer to have a guy who can do that," Conley said of Allen's play. "To take a guy (like Ellis), who is so good, out of game offensively is unbelievable. As long he can do that, he is able to be a game-changer for us."

Memphis led 43-34 at halftime by shooting 40 percent, despite Gay and Allen hitting 2 of 7 each and Conley missing his three shots.

Neither team had a scorer in double figures at intermission.

Memphis took the first double-digit lead of the game on its initial possession of the second half, and eventually extended it to 60-45 as the Grizzlies turned up the defensive pressure. The Bucks, meanwhile, looked like a team struggling to catch their breath on the second night of a back-to-back.

"We just couldn't get anything going on the offensive end," Skiles said. "We can't score one of three possessions and expect to come back and win."

Memphis would eventually build the lead to 16 in the third and finished the quarter with a 66-51 advantage.

"That's where we lay our hat at is on the defensive end," said Allen, who had a season-high four steals. "Ever since I got here, that's been our motto, holding it down on the defensive end, playing in and out basketball. Whenever we do that, I think we are more effective."

NOTES: Memphis defeated Milwaukee 108-90 on Nov. 7. .Memphis has won five straight in the series and swept the season series three straight years. The teams played only once in last year's lockout-shortened season. .Memphis had 20 rebounds in the first quarter, the most for a period this season. They ended the night outrebounding Milwaukee 56-44. ... Conley needs one assist to tie Jason Williams for the most assists in Grizzlies franchise history. Williams had 2,069. ... The Bucks, who defeated the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, are now 2-3 in second night of a back-to-back. ... The previous low point total for the Bucks this season was 81 at New Orleans on Dec. 3. .Randolph now has a league-best 19 double-doubles in 23 games.

Notebook: Grizzlies 90, Bucks 80

Marlon W. Morgan, for NBA.com
Posted Thu Dec 20, 2012 1:10 AM - Updated Thu Dec 20, 2012 1:10 AM

THE FACTS: For the second straight game, the Memphis Grizzlies offense struggled to put the ball in the basket. Even layups and dunks had a hard time finding their way through the hoop. But the one thing they have been able to rely on all season is their defense. The Grizzlies put the clamps on Milwaukee Wednesday night, coming away with a 90-80 win, while improving to 17-6. Zach Randolph led the way with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "We had a ton of open looks. We just missed them. There's not much to say. We couldn't make a shot and we were only down nine at the half. It was tough."
-- Bucks coach Scott Skiles

THE STAT: The Grizzlies held the Bucks to just 35 percent shooting, which is why they had a hard time hitting the 80-point mark. It marked the 22nd consecutive game that the Grizzlies have held their opponent under 100 points, which is why they lead the NBA in points allowed per game (90.0 before Wednesday).

TURNING POINT: The Grizzlies used a 13-6 run to close out the third quarter. That allowed them to take a 66-51 cushion into the final period. With Milwaukee struggling to shoot the ball all night, that was more than enough of a lead for the Grizzlies.

HOT: FedExForum continues to be a tough place for opponents to play. The Grizzlies improved to 11-2 at home this season and have won 22 of their last 24 regular season games at the Forum.

NOT: It was a miserable night for Milwaukee guard Monta Ellis, who resides in Memphis. Ellis missed his first 13 shot attempts and didn't make his first and only basket of the night until 2:31 remained in the game. Ellis was 1-for-14 from the floor, finishing with a season-low four points.

QUOTABLE II: "I don't know how you practice dunking. I might have to go back to eighth grade when I used to try to dunk all the time in practice. It's just being aggressive. You can't fault me for trying to be aggressive."
-- Rudy Gay

NOTABLE: The win gives the Grizzlies a season sweep against the Bucks. They won on Nov. 7 in Milwaukee, 108-90. It is the third straight year the Grizzlies have swept Milwaukee. ... The 80 points scored by the Bucks were their season low. It comes after the Grizzlies held Chicago to its season low of 71 on Monday night. The Bucks also were held to a season-low 11 assists, although its kind of hard to get assists when you miss 55 shots. ... The Grizzlies' bench outscored Milwaukee's 31-26 ... The team is now 7-0 when the bench outscores their opponent. ... Mike Conley's six assists leaves him two shy of becoming the Grizzlies' all-time leader. Jason Williams currently holds that distinction. ... Marc Gasol had his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. ... Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 26 points, but was just 9-for-26 from the floor.. He also had seven rebounds and two assists.

UP NEXT: For the Bucks, Friday at Boston, Saturday vs. Cleveland, Wednesday vs. Brooklyn. For the Grizzlies, Friday vs. Dallas, Saturday at Houston, Wednesday vs. Philadelphia.

• Bucks: Harris, Udrih
• Grizzlies: Selby

• Bucks: --
• Grizzlies: --

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #38 Michael Smith, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 16007
• Duration: 2:11