NBA Round-Up: 27 December, 2010 - (Part II)
Memphis Grizzlies 96 - Toronto Raptors 85
The Memphis Grizzlies played defensively and trounced the visiting short-handed Toronto Raptors 96-85 at FedExForum in Memphis.
Zach Randolph scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame an early 12-point deficit to register their 14th win of the season. Rudy g*y contributed 18 points, grabbed six assists and five rebounds. Tony Allen had 14 points
and a season-high six steals. While Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo scored 12 points apiece.
Grizzlies guard Tony Allen told reporters after the game, "I haven't been told specifically what to do, when to do, how to do. I just come in and play my game. This is my seventh year in the league and I'm just coming in every moment I get to try to bring
energy and cause havoc the best I can."
Linas Kleiza led the Raptors with 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting in their 20th defeat this season. While DeMar DeRozan finished with 18 points. Jose Calderon had 13 and Leandro Barbosa scored 11 for the Raptors in their third straight loss, and fifth in
the last six games. Joey Dorsey registered 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors.
The Raptors did not play well offensively in the first quarter but once again found a way to take a 24-16 lead into the second. With a 10-0 run, the Grizzlies were able to take their first lead of the game at 36-34 in the second quarter.
Trailing by 77-63, the Raptors scored 22 points in the final stanza by limiting the opponent to just 19 points. However, Randolph’s consecutive baskets extended the Memphis lead back to double digits. With the clock running down, a 12-2 run by the Grizzlies
put the game out of reach.
"They picked up their intensity after the first quarter. They forced some deflections and got us some more turnovers," Raptors coach Jay Triano said.
Atlanta Hawks 95 - Milwaukee Bucks 80
On the back of a huge effort from a well-knitted Atlanta Defence, the Atlanta Hawks thrashed the Milwaukee Bucks 95-80 in a lopsided encounter at the Bradley Center.
Al Horford scored a team-high 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for Hawks, who snapped a five-game road losing streak. Joe Johnson netted 15 points, while Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams both contributed 14 points off the bench in Atlanta’s 20th victory
of the season. Josh Smith ended with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Horford said after the game, "We play our best when we're sharing the ball. We're just consistent and solid throughout, and that's what we did tonight.”
John Salmons led the Bucks with a team-high 18 points, while Keyon Dooling had 15 points and nine assists. Andrew Bogut went for 14 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end at home ground.
Atlanta played the opening quarter offensively and maintained an 11-point lead (29-18) at the end of the first. Smith led the scoring with eight of his thirteen points in the first.
The Bucks tried hard to slow down Atlanta’s defensive play; however the Bucks still trailed 57-42 at the half time.
In the third quarter, John Salmons’ three-pointer pulled the Bucks within 69-62 with three minutes left in the third. A 17 and 19 foot jumper by Horford extended Atlanta’s lead to 73-62. The Bucks never got closer than eight points for rest of the way.
"We weren't aggressive at either end. They handled us pretty easy. It was worse than the score appeared," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said after the game.
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