Memphis Grizzlies slash the Utah Jazz for a 103 – 85 win
The Memphis Grizzlies saw seven of its players putting up double-figures as they beat the Utah Jazz 103 -85 on Monday night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. Memphis big-men
Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Hamed Haddadi thoroughly dominated the Jazz underneath the rim and rack up 66 points in the painted area. Compared to Memphis, Utah could only manage 40 points in the paint.
The Utah Jazz entered the game trying to track the eighth –placed Memphis Grizzlies down for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Memphis had other ideas though,
as they posted a season-high 33 assists to take down the Jazz. To make things worse for Utah, the Grizzlies shot 50.6 percent from the floor and only turned the ball over nine times through the course of the game.
"Each game is a playoff game for us," Randolph said. "We're trying to get there. We're in the last spot. We're trying to hold onto it or move up. So it's important every
game to come out and be focused."
Zach Randolph led the way with 13 rebounds and 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Mike Conley scored 11 points and had 11 assists, while Darrell Arthur went 7-of-11 from the
floor to contribute 14 points off the bench for Memphis.
"The biggest thing I think is that we're having a lot of fun," Conley said. "This whole ordeal has been great for us. Being so close, almost sniffing at a playoff berth,
knowing that each game is basically a playoff game for us because it means so much. We're so focused and having fun with it that we're all so excited when the game time comes around."
Jazz guard Devin Harris had to leave three minutes into the first quarter with a right hamstring injury; he scored three points and did not return to the game.
Randolph’s layup around the halfway mark in the first quarter tied the score at 12 apiece. Hamed Haddadi poured in 8 points in the first quarter for the Grizzlies to give
them a 29 -21 lead heading into the second period.
Memphis extended its lead to 13 points, courtesy a jumpshot by Leon Powe at the 8:49 mark in the second quarter. Paul Millsap however made three consecutive shots to cut
the Memphis lead to 48 -36 with 2:46 left in the half.
With the defenders rushing at him, O.J Mayo connected on a step-back buzzer-beating jumper from downtown to finish the half with an exclamation point. The Grizzlies led
54 – 42 at the break.
The Jazz didn’t have a bad shooting night as they shot 48.5 percent from the field, but they committed 19 turnovers during the course of the game to let the Grizzlies off
with an advantage. Memphis had 16 offensive rebounds and also gave the team from the Salt Lake City a 40-30 drubbing on the glass.
Memphis held onto its lead throughout the game to emerge victorious in the contest.
For the Utah Jazz, Paul Millsap top-scored with 15 points.
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