Memphis Grizzlies defeat Denver Nuggets 116-108 (Part–1)
Momentum is a powerful thing in the NBA and there are some players in the league to whom you just can’t allow that luxury. Unfortunately, for the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, they allowed it to Zach Randolph down the stretch.
Limited to a pair of free throws through the course of the first three quarters, Randolph was having a miserable night until the second minute of the fourth quarter.
However, as great players always do, Randolph finally found a way through. The dazzling ring slammer began carving through the Denver defence, making more aggressive moves and stepping back for short jumpers.
Randolph rode the last 11 minutes of the game with 12 points on a 6-of-7 shooting. By the time Randolph, one of the league’s most feared rebounder and post scorers was finished, the Memphis Grizzlies had overcome a 14-point deficit to overcome the Denver
Nuggets by 116-108.
"You don't have to devise a plan or play or anything to get Z-Bo the ball," Rudy g*y, who scored 23 points on a 9-of-15 shooting from the field, said after the match. He added, "He will get it himself. That is what he did at first. He got himself in the
rhythm, and then we gave him the ball."
The Denver Nuggets came into this match having won 11 of their last 12 encounters against the Memphis Grizzlies. On the first leg of a three-match road trip, the Bronchos called all the shots in the match, up until the last 15 minutes. Leading by as many
as 17 at one point, the Nuggets virtually collapsed down the stretch, coughing up big time to hand the Grizzlies a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Memphis Coach Lionel Hollins, who has led the resurgent Grizzlies to eight victories in the last ten matches, heaped praise on his team. He said, "In the third quarter we were coming, in the fourth, we just exploded. We were much more aggressive and much
more intense defensively."
While Randolph was spearheading the offensive front in the fourth period, Tony Allen provided the fireworks at the back end. Allen dived, scrapped for loose balls, infused pace in the game, provided leadership and churned the hustle plays that sparked intensity
into Memphis’ defence. The results were significant as the same team that allowed the Nuggets 90 points in the first three quarters, reduced them to a paltry 18 in the fourth.
Denver’s dynamic sharp shooter, Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points in the first 36 minutes, but was reduced to only two in the final twelve minutes. Post match Anthony said of Allen, "Tony Allen, for the most part, came in and changed the whole style of play
of the game with all his energy. Diving on the ball, getting on loose balls. They got the crowd into it, and they won the energy game."
Darrell Arthur also had a fantastic game for Memphis. The reserve forward with ‘00’ written behind his back, zeroed in on the Nuggets with a season-high 24 points to lead his team. Mike Conley had 17 points and five assists. Marc Gasol scored 15 points and
snatched seven rebounds, while Tony Allen sprung off the bench to pour 17 points and a match-high three steals. Zach Randolph finished with 14 points and 16 boards.
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