Postgame Summary: Grizzlies 102, Sixers 91

Tony Allen

February 16, 2011

Zach Randolph posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Grizzlies defeated the 76ers 102-91 at home on Tuesday night. Mike Conley added 22 points and five steals in the Grizzlies' fourth straight win. Game Info | Box Score | Discuss

Postgame Notes

  • Memphis reached 31 wins (31-24) with a victory in its last contest before the All-Star Game, the most the club has head heading into the break in franchise history… The Grizzlies have twice entered the break with 30 wins (2003-04 and 2004-05).
  • Memphis earned a season series sweep over Philadelphia for the first time since 2004-05 (previously done in 2003-04 and 2004-05).
  • The Grizzlies earned their seventh win in their last eight home games, improving to 19-8 at FedExForum this year.
  • The Grizzlies improved to five games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2010, when a win at Sacramento gave them a 38-33 record.
  • The Grizzlies held the Sixers to an opponent season-low 10 first-quarter points en route to a 26-10 opening frame… Philadelphia scored 65 combined points in the second and third quarters but just 26 total in the first and fourth.
  • The 76ers began the game a perfect 18-of-18 from the line, but finished 22-of-26 (.846).
  • Memphis has won 12 of its last 15 games, including four-straight.
  • The Grizzlies improved to 13-5 with the starting lineup of Mike Conley, Sam Young, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
  • The Grizzlies earned a win in their last game before All-Star Break, ending a four-game losing streak in the pre-All-Star contest… Memphis is now 4-11 in the last game before the break, but 3-2 at home.
  • Stat of the Night:The Grizzlies swiped 12 steals to the Sixers’ three, turning 17 turnovers into 28 points while coughing it up just seven times for 11 Philadelphia points… Four Grizzlies players finished with multiple steals, led by Mike Conley’s five.
  • Key Run of the Night: Memphis allowed Philadelphia to cut an 18-point lead all the way down to one (73-72 with 1:27 left in the third quarter), but recovered to string together a 12-3 run to lead by double-digits with 9:29 remaining (85-75)… Philadelphia never led in the ballgame.

Video

Rudy Gay

Photos

Player Notes

Zach Randolph

who prior to tip-off received the January Western Conference Player of the Month Award, had another solid game in February with his 40th double-double and 25th 20-10 game of the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high seven assists, his first 20-point/five-rebound/five-assist game of the season.p>

They said...

Lionel Hollins

Coach Hollins

On the game:
I like where we are right now. I thought in the first quarter, our defense was unbelievable. We came out with a lot of energy, a lot of focus and a lot of commitment to what we do. We just knocked them back on their heels. I thought that was really the game. They outscored us by five in the second quarter and then again in the third quarter. We had the lead, and we played with it. In the fourth quarter, we came out with focus again and held them at 16 points and pretty much won going away.

On the scheduling of the break:
It doesn’t matter. It was going to happen sometime. Honestly, we would have liked to play, but we do have people that are injured. Zach’s (Randolph) ankle is messed up. Mike’s (Conley) ankle is tender. We just have guys that are nicked up as it is to be in the season with so many games. It’s so long, and there’s a lot of fatigue. It’s a happy thing to see whenever it is, whether it’s good for you or bad for you as far as how you’re playing. We just have to rev it back up when we come back.

On the team’s progress:
I think their commitment to each other is strong. Their bond is strong. I think our defense is another thing. No matter who’s out there, we’re defending. We’re talking and we’re helping. If only we could just be a little more disciplined not to gamble so much, but we gamble and get steals. That’s who we are. There’s times when it looks bad because we gamble. That’s probably the biggest thing. Our guys have confidence in each other. I thought Greivis (Vasquez) coming off the bench and playing a lot of two was really huge tonight. They (Sixers) were playing point guards. It’s one thing to go small and play twos and threes, but they went small and played three point guards. You’re asking twos and threes to guard those guys, and I thought that putting him in the game gave us another ball handler. I thought that was the key in putting us ahead.

On O.J. Mayo:
He got his feet wet. The best I can say is he got his feet wet. I wasn’t comfortable with him in there. I know what those other guys are going to do. Like I said, O.J. has been out for ten games, and we’re a totally different team than when he left. He’s rusty, and he was rushing. He was on the verge of a little out of control, but I was glad I got a chance to put him in the second half of the game. I wasn’t really worried about it. I haven’t even really thought about it. I figured if there’s a time when I need him, then I’ll do it. But I wasn’t going to force the issue. When we come back, we’ll practice on Monday and keep going forward. Quite frankly, those other guys have earned and entrenched themselves in their spots. I just told him that it’s going to be tough. He has to put in the time to catch up with us. We’re gone, and he’s got to catch up to the speed of the game again. It’s always tough when you’re out or hurt in the middle of the season because the game is flying. He’s been in a standstill, and he’s got to catch up to the speed of the game. He was a little out of control today because he hasn’t caught up to the speed yet.