Grizzlies win eighth straight
On short rest, Memphis takes care of business vs. Bobcats
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The question Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins posed to his team after winning a seventh straight game was “now what?”
His players responded Saturday night — in the second game of their first back-to-back, by simply winning their eighth in a row.
“The last two games have distinguished what personality this team has,” Griz point Mike Conley said following their 9487 win over the Charlotte Bobcats in Time Warner Cable Arena.
Say this about the Griz: They are a group that can win any kind of way. The game wasn’t pretty offensively and the Griz stumbled into the Bobcats’ digs after arriving in town at 4 a.m.
Yet Memphis maintained control from start to finish and improved its NBA-best record to 8-1. The Griz own an eightgame winning streak for the fi rst time since Jan. 11-25, 2004. The Griz set a franchise record with 50 wins that season.
These streak-busting Griz ended the feisty Bobcats’ three-game winning streak. Memphis has shut down opponents’ streaks of four, five and six games. Hollins’ “now what?” comment came after the Griz beat the previously undefeated New York Knicks Friday night in FedExForum.
HOT TOPIC
As personality traits go, the Griz are trying to stay humble and hungry.
“We’re playing as if we’re 1-8,” forward Zach Randolph said. “We’re not trying to act like we’re big. We’re taking one game at a time.”
To a man, the Griz insisted that the Knicks victory would be wasted if they didn’t beat the Bobcats (4-4) in a game they were expected to win.
Still, the Bobcats rallied in the fourth quarter. The Griz, leading 77-60 early in the final period, needed to continue their excellence at the foul line down the stretch after Charlotte made it a five-point game.
Memphis converted all six free-throw attempts in the final frame and 30 of 34 for the game. That helped compensate for 39-percent shooting.
“We were on fumes coming down the stretch,” Hollins said. “We had a tough game (Friday night) and then got in at 4 a.m. This (win) is a testament to our toughness.”
Conley’s 20 points and four steals led the Griz, who had all five starters score in double figures. Randolph added 18 points and 12 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double. Rudy Gay chipped in 16 points before fouling out with 3:54 left in the game.
Memphis will take a well-earned day off Sunday and rest up for a season-high, five-game home stand.
TURNING POINT
The Grizzlies continue to maintain great composure whenever an opponent makes a serious second-half run.
“It’s just being poised and confident in our execution down the stretch,” Conley said.
A key moment happened after the Bobcats scored 11 unanswered points to trim the Grizzlies lead from 17 points to 77-71 with 6:55 left in the game. The Griz went down low, specifically to Randolph. The veteran produced back-to-back scores from point-blank range and the baskets helped keep the Bobcats at bay.
Memphis’ bench has stayed close with opponents this season, scoring 28.3 points to opponents’ 29. But this was an off night for the Griz reserves. They combined to score just 16 points on 4- of-20 shooting. Wayne Ellington missed all five of his shots and Marreese Speights misfired on six of seven attempts.
3: Jerryd Bayless recorded a career night in blocked shots with three of the Grizzlies’ seven.
12: Tony Allen tossed in a season-high 12 points
113: The Grizzlies have forced at least 10 turnovers in 112 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
GOT NEXT
Grizzlies vs Nuggets, Monday, 7 p.m. The Nuggets are playing 17 of their first 23 games on the road. They’re allowing more than 100 points on the road.