Postgame Summary: Grizzlies 116, Nuggets 108

Grizzlies

February 13, 2011

The Grizzlies proved again tonight that they can never be counted out, as they rallied from a 17-point second half deficit to come away with a 116-108 win over the Denver Nuggets at FedExForumGame Info | Box Score | Discuss

Postgame Notes

  • Memphis reached 30 wins (30-24) on Feb. 13, the earliest they’ve hit 30 since accomplishing that feat with a home win over Portland on Feb. 11, 2005 in the 2004-05 season (30-21).
  • The Grizzlies came back from a 17-point Nuggets’ lead, besting their previous home comeback of 12 points (three times).
  • The Grizzlies earned their sixth win in their last seven home games, improving to 18-8 at FedExForum this year.
  • The Grizzlies improved to four games above .500 for the first time since March 24, 2010, when they held a 38-34 mark.
  • Memphis has won 11 of its last 14 games.
  • The Grizzlies improved to 12-5 with the starting lineup of Mike Conley, Sam Young, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
  • Memphis outrebounded Denver 41-29.
  • Stat of the Night:The Grizzlies connected on a season-high .557 of their shots from the field (44-of-79 FG), including a 12-of-19 (.632) effort on their way to 34 fourth-quarter points.
  • Key Run of the Night: After Denver took its biggest lead of the game, a 17-point advantage with 3:56 to play in the third (86-69), Memphis answered with a 27-10 run to tie the game at 96 apiece… The run totaled 47-22 to close the game.

Video

Rudy Gay

Photos

Player Notes

Zach Randolph

grabbed his 38th double-double of the season with 14 points (6-of-13 FG) and 16 rebounds, securing multiple offensive rebounds for a 24th consecutive game (dating back to Dec. 29 at Sacramento), extending his franchise record… Z-Bo was held without a field goal in the first three quarters (0-of-6 FG) before hitting 6-of-7 from the field en route to a 12-point quarter.

They said...

Lionel Hollins

Coach Hollins

On the game:
We were a lot more aggressive and a lot more physical. They were just running while we did a much better job offensively. We just got more aggressive. In the third quarter we were coming, and in the fourth we just exploded. We were much more aggressive and much more intense defensively.

On players coming off the bench:
Darrell (Arthur) kept us in the game. He and Marc (Gasol), in the first half, actually kept us in the game. Zach (Randolph) was a little tender, and then as the game went on, he got into the flow. He started feeling it, and he got two huge offensive rebounds against Nene. We made some basket cuts on them and got to the foul line. Darrell was huge. He had a huge night. He made jumpers and made free throws and rebounded. His and Tony’s (Allen) points off the bench were huge for us. We had 41 points off our bench, when only two of them really played and minutes. They came through big time. It was another team win. A lot of guys did a lot of things for us. Rudy (Gay) forced a double team, and he got a charge on Carmelo (Anthony). Tony Allen just does what Tony Allen does. He was attacking the basket and got to the rim. He got to the free throw line, which got us into the penalty and got everybody energized.

On playing time in the game:
As a coach, I have to do what’s necessary to win the game. They (the players) have to allow me to coach. Tonight Marc (Gasol) didn’t play much in the second half. Once I took Marc out, they went with Carmelo (Anthony) at the four. I decided to stick with Zach (Randolph) and Rudy (Gay), and then I brought Darrell (Arthur) in for Zach. When we went back to two bigs, I went with the two smaller bigs. It was just that type of game--where they were just up and down. I just felt like it was too quick for our seven-footers to really have some effectiveness on defense. Marc scored on offense, but he was struggling on the defensive end. For us to get more aggressive and to push up on them a little more, we needed to be a little smaller and a little quicker. That’s what being a professional is about. I talked to Marc after the game and thanked him for being professional. That’s the way the game of basketball has always been. You have 12 guys who are active, and 12 guys have to be ready to play. J-Will (Jason Williams) came in and gave us huge minutes. I just wanted to go with a veteran presence, and I knew he would push the ball. We needed to get the pace up a little quicker, and he started pushing and got us some stuff. That’s why we’re sitting here happy with that tonight.

On the game:
We were a lot more aggressive and a lot more physical. They were just running while we did a much better job offensively. We just got more aggressive. In the third quarter we were coming, and in the fourth we just exploded. We were much more aggressive and much more intense defensively.

Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay

On tonight’s game:
This was a very gutsy win for us. A lot of guys are injured. Tony (Allen) came through in the clutch with great defense; Darrell (Arthur) played good. It was a good win for us.

On Jason Williams’ minutes played tonight:
Obviously, Jason (Williams) is familiar with everything, he has won here. He knows exactly how to win. For the most part he picked up the tempo and handed the ball to the right person at the right time. He really had a big part in us coming back.

You don’t have to devise a plan or play, or anything to get Z-Bo (Zach Randolph) the ball. He will get it himself. That is what he did at first, he got himself in the rhythm and then we gave him the ball.

On Tony Allen’s being a game changer:
I know one thing, if he doesn’t play his way on a team, he is going to talk his way. He has been great for us, giving us the energy we need coming off the bench. He is a game changer.

On the playoff race:
We have bigger goals. We go out there and do the best we can, we reach for the stars. Whatever team it is, whenever that last day is, wherever we stand, that is where we want to be.

We have battle scars, and wounds. We are out there limping around but we are playing hard and playing through those injuries.