EVEN WITHOUT BIG SPAIN, GRIZZLIES DELIVER THE PAIN
In first game with Gasol on disabled list, everyone steps up to shred the Nets.
BROOKLYN — When the Grizzlies began to sew a comfortable cushion, they used multicolored stitching.
The array with which the Griz began to pummel the Brooklyn Nets included a pair of Mike Conley 3-pointers, Courtney Lee’s strong drive to the basket for a score and Zach Randolph’s blocked shot on the other end that led to JaMychal Green tossing in a basket from the post.
The Grizzlies’ 10-0 run that began the second half of their 109-90 victory Wednesday night in the Barclays Center backed up Randolph’s assertion before tipoff.
They intend to conduct life without center Marc Gasol with the collective effort that overwhelmed the Nets.
“We’re going to play for him and win,”
Randolph said. “Everybody has to step up. ... Me, Mike, T.A. (Tony Allen). Everybody.”
JaMychal Green started in place of Gasol, who is out indef initely with a broken right foot. The Griz are still determining whether Gasol will require surgery. He could miss the remainder of this season.
Conley said Gasol is “devastated” a nd t hat even teammates found it difficult to reach the 7-footer by telephone and text Tuesday after learning about his injury.
“This is as low as it gets for him,” Conley said before adding: “We’re not flushing this season down the toilet. That’s the statement we’re going to make to everybody.”
The Nets heard the Griz loud and clear.
Memphis dominated the third period and bolted to a 26-point lead. The Griz made seven 3-pointers in a 39-point third quarter. The Nets managed just 18 points and shot 37 percent in the decisive period.
“It was just rough to try to come back and overcome that,” Nets forward Thaddeus Young said. “They’re a tough team to play. They’re a solid, veteran team. They know how to play well with each other and they know how to get into their mismatches and how to get into their schemes and coverages.”
Jeff Green connected on three consecutive 3-pointers at one point as the Griz padded a 50-45 halftime lead. Memphis never let up and led 91-65 with 10 minutes left.
“We made some shots and the ball got moving around,” Griz coach Dave Joerger said. “Any time you make shots, that’s a nice deal. It was just a really good feeling. It hasn’t been a fun 36 hours for us with the news about Marc Gasol. It kind of set in today. (Tuesday) was shock and today it set in.”
Conley scored 20 points. Jeff Green chipped in with 18 points and Randolph added 15 after starting at center.
Allen helped picked up the slack defensively by holding Nets veteran Joe Johnson scoreless. Johnson had a basket in 937 straight games, but his streak, the longest active in the NBA, ended.
Although it was hardly evident, Allen pointed out that the Grizzlies’ defensive communication wasn’t the same without Gasol.
“What he brings to the table can’t no one man do,” Allen said. “His value to the team is definitely a dent to our offense. We’re going to have to value each possession and collectively talk on the defensive end. He clogs the paint up and get guys in the right place. This is a former Defensive Player of the Year we’re talking about here; a franchise player. So to see him go down is devastating.”
Tip-in: A recent Yahoo! Sports report contends that the Grizzlies are planning to pursue Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant during free agency this summer. Even if the Grizzlies get an audience with Durant to make a pitch, a marriage with Memphis and the superstar was characterized as “the longest of long shots” in the report.