GRIZZLIES TAKE TAG OFF BICKERSTAFF

» The MEMPHIS, TENN.

Memphis Grizzlies have decided to make J.B. Bickerstaff their next head coach, removing the interim tag from his title.

The Grizzlies did not disclose terms Tuesday of Bickerstaff’s new deal.

Bickerstaff was the associate head coach when Memphis fired David Fizdale in late November of his second season. Guard Mike Conley had season-ending surgery to repair his left heel and Achilles tendon, and the Grizzlies finished the season at 22-60 for the second-worst record in the NBA behind only Phoenix.

“J.B. did an admirable job as interim head coach last season in what was a challenging set of circumstances,” general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement.

Jazz search for answers.

No one on Utah is using the word “stop” when referring to what to try to do to James Harden in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night after the Rockets star scored 41 points in a Game 1 rout.

They’re simply searching for ways to slow him down a bit after he’s averaged almost 36 points a game in five meetings this season.

“He is a (heck) of a player so it’s going to be tough, but we feel like we can just try to make it a bit tough on him for the whole (time) he’s out there,” Utah’s Joe Ingles said. — The Associated Press