GRIZ CLINCH 7TH SEED, TOP KNICKS
Memphis will face 2-seed San Antonio in opening round
Mike Conley wore a thick bandage with clear tape across the top of his right eye.
The swelling subsided but a nasty laceration remained as Conley returned to action Friday night following a onegame layoff due to the injury. The first bit of optimism was that Conley no longer experienced impaired vision and that became evident early as he guided the Grizzlies to a 101-88 victory over the New York Knicks in FedExForum.
Conley connected on his first three shots en route to a game-high 31 points that helped end the Grizzlies’ threegame losing streak. Memphis clinched the Western Conference’s seventh playoff seed with the victory. The secondplace San Antonio Spurs await as the Grizzlies’ first-round opponent in the postseason.
Conley mostly scored from the outside, burying the Knicks with deft shooting from long distance. Conley made seven of his 12 field goals from three-point range.
Memphis trailed 72-70 entering the fourth quarter until a pair of Marc Gasol free throws knotted the score two minutes into the final frame. Conley then gave Memphis a 75-72 advantage with a 3-pointer.
Conley eventually buried a shot from beyond the arc that put the Grizzlies ahead 85-78 with 6:58 remaining in the game. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek called for time. After forcing the Knicks into another empty offensive possession, the Grizzlies extended their lead to 11 points.
Although the Grizzlies built a 12point lead in the first half they couldn’t bury the Knicks. Memphis led 53-47 at halftime but watched New York manufacture an edge in fast-break and paint points.
Conley picked up some offensive slack left by center Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies’ center missed seven of his first eight shots. But Gasol finished with a double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds) in his third game back from a let foot strain. Conley returned from the eye injury he suffered Tuesday night at
San Antonio where he bumped heads with Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.
Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, along with his two stars, stressed that they wanted to establish a rhythm before the playoffs began. Memphis has two games remaining – Sunday against Detroit and Wednesday vs. Dallas.
New York is headed to the NBA’s draft lottery and didn’t play its two best players. Forward Carmelo Anthony (sore left knee) and big man Kristaps Porzingis (back) sat out for the Knicks.
Reach Ronald Tillery at Ronald.Tillery@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @CAGrizBeat.