Parsons misfires again in Griz win
Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said veteran Vince Carter’s role this year would be akin to a Swiss Army knife.
Carter, 40, could be a utility player. In a 130-112 win Tuesday night over the Phoenix Suns, Carter let go a sharp elbow to Suns guard Devin Booker. Carter was ejected but the show of force sparked the Grizzlies, according to several teammates.
“I thought he should have stayed in the game. It got us fired up,” forward Zach Randolph said. “(The Suns) are a good, young team. They have a lot of great talent. It was just a good fight for Who: Memphis vs. Dallas Mavericks When, where: 7:30 p.m., Friday, American Airlines Center TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM us.”
Said Fizdale: “It was going to be one of those games and our guys understood that.”
Even Booker sounded as though he knew he’d get a lesson in NBA physicality.
“People know basketball. I knew I was going to get a hard foul at a point in the game,” Booker said. “I just wanted a chance at getting somebody back. That’s just how it goes. Anybody who knows basketball, that’s how it goes, especially Vince. He’s played back in the day. He’s been through that.”
Carter and Booker didn’t provide the only fireworks in FedExForum.
Chandler Parsons heard jeers from fans for his general inactivity on the court. He’s hesitant to shoot, dribbles without purpose and continues to misfire from the perimeter. When Parsons made his only basket – a 3-pointer – the crowd wildly cheered. Then he took a bow – literally. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ offense lit up the scoreboard with 130 points.
The point total and 55.8 percent shooting were season highs. The Grizzlies’ 75 second-half points marked the thirdhighest total for either half in franchise history, falling just two points shy of a franchise-high (77 vs. Golden State on Jan. 3, 2007).
Memphis also amassed a season-high
62 points in the paint while its 38 points in the third quarter tied a season high for points scored in any quarter.
It helps that Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Randolph are capable of doing some heavy lifting offensively. They’ve each scored 20 points or more in each of the last two games.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they’re the first trio of Grizzlies players to score at least 20 points in back-to-back games in more than 10 years, since Chucky Atkins, Pau Gasol and Mike Miller did it in January 2007.
Who’s hot
With 29 points, Conley recorded his 17th game with 20 points or more. He is averaging 30 points on 19-of-35 shooting (8 of 15 from three-point range) in his last two outings.
Who’s not
Booker and Grizzlies reserve Troy Daniels – the two combatants in the teams’ previous meeting – were nonfactors this time. Daniels missed all three of his shots. Booker was held to nine points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Reach Tillery at Ronald.Tillery@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @CAGrizBeat.