Wallace View: Grizzlies 88, Trail Blazers 86

MEMPHIS – The NBA’s super-clutch kings have done it again.

Just when it appears the Grizzlies are destined for disaster after stumbling well into the fourth quarter, they somehow keep finding a way to straighten up in time to save themselves with the game on the line. Their latest tight-rope act was delivered Thursday as they rallied from a 13-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter for a stunning 88-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum.

Marc Gasol scored a season-high 36 points, JaMychal Green snatched a career-high 18 rebounds and journeyman point guard Toney Douglas scored the final six points for the Grizzlies (16-8), who extended several improbable streaks as they pile up victories while missing several key players due to injuries.

Memphis won its fifth straight game and improved to 12-0 this season in “super-clutch” games, defined as contests in which the score is within three points during the final minute of regulation or overtime. There were concerns entering the game whether Gasol would even be available after dealing with a sore right groin the past two days. He was listed as questionable entering Thursday’s game, but then delivered a resounding answer with his third straight dominant performance of the week.

After finishing with a triple-double in Monday’s double-overtime win in New Orleans, a double-double the next night at home against Philadelphia and then his highest scoring game of the season Thursday, Gasol is averaging 30 points, 10.7 rebounds and five assists through three games this week. 

“I wish I could tell you,” Gasol said of the Grizzlies’ late-game resilience. “We just keep fighting. I think you’ve seen in many games now that we just don’t let go of the rope. We keep fighting and finding a way. We know how comfortable we feel in those positions. It feels like every game is going that way.” 

It’s almost happening right on cue now every single night. When Grizzlies’ defensive catalyst Tony Allen checks back into the game midway through the fourth quarter, he flips the game upside down. Memphis trailed 77-64 moments after Allen reentered for his closing shift but proceeded to close on a 24-9 run. That charge featured huge three-pointers from Gasol and Troy Daniels, and another big offensive punch from Toney Douglas. Defensively, the Grizzlies limited Portland to just 21.1 percent shooting in the fourth. Allen’s primary assignment was Blazers’ guard C.J. McCollum, who went scoreless in the final period. On Nov. 6, it was McCollum who torched the Grizzlies for 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 100-94 win in Memphis. That’s called a market correction. “That’s just paying attention to detail,” said Allen, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. “We had our antennas up.”                   

Overall, it was a rough game offensively for Grizzlies’ point guard Andrew Harrison, who missed 10 of his 12 shots. But his best overall play came with 2:52 left in the half, when he stole an inbound pass on the wing and flipped a pass to Gasol, who drilled his third three-pointer to pull Memphis to within one, 40-39.

Toney Douglas. It can’t be overstated how key Douglas was in the clutch moments against Portland. Sure, Gasol scored more and has been on a tear lately. Yes, Green has been a rebounding machine the past four games. And, of course, it was Allen who flipped the defensive switch to lock down the Blazers. But considering the fact that Douglas wasn’t on an NBA roster this time a week ago, it’s clear that the veteran combo guard deserves some shine, too. Douglas was four days into a 10-day stint with the Grizzlies, who were granted an NBA hardship waiver to sign him to a 16th roster spot on Monday. By Thursday night, the seven-year veteran was on the floor for all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. He provided the go-ahead scores on three different occasions in the final 34 seconds, first with a jumper to make it 84-83, then two free throws to make it 86-85 and then another pair from the line to seal it.

The Grizzlies had to overcome another horrendous start, this time a season-low 14 points in the first quarter. No one could get anything going other than Gasol, who required 48-hours of treatment to loosen up his strained right groin enough to play Thursday. Memphis hit another lull in the third quarter, when it scored only 19 points. But when the Grizzlies need to perform, they find a way to step up. Thursday’s comeback was the first time Memphis has beaten a team that came in with a winning record since its 111-107 victory on Nov. 16 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies face the daunting task of trying to extend their win streak with the Warriors on deck Saturday and a back-to-back set against the defending champion Cavaliers next week. “It’s a lot of talk going around saying we’re winning easy games, and what are we going to do against good teams,” Green said. “We’ll, we’re going to show it.”       

Although Harrison made his ninth start at point guard Saturday while filling in for injured Mike Conley, it was Douglas who got the call in the fourth quarter when Fizdale wanted a facilitator he could trust on both ends of the court. Not even Zach Randolph got back in for the final stretches of the fourth, with the Grizzlies instead using Green as the preferred closing power forward alongside Gasol. Fizdale has insisted that his rotation at the end of games doesn’t reflect an indictment on anyone who is not in the game, but more of a feel of what the team needs on a given night. “I won’t hesitate to use any one at any time in the game,” Fizdale has said. “I’ve told all those guys, ‘Just stay ready at all times.’”            

Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors at FedExForum, 7:00 pm (TV: TV: Grizzlies Live! Pregame Show FOX Sports Southeast 6:30 p.m./Radio: Grizzlies Pregame Show 92.9 FM ESPN, 6:30 p.m.)

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