NBA Update: Zach Randolph leads Memphis to a 109-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns
Three nights following a double-overtime loss in Phoenix, the Memphis Grizzlies got a measure of revenge against the Suns at FedEx Forum, as they got a gruelling three match home stand off to a perfect start to clinch their fourth victory of the season.
The Suns who handed the Eastern Conference’s lone undefeated team, Atlanta Hawks, their first loss of the season in their last game were completely dominated by the Grizzlies. Memphis led Phoenix for all but 15 seconds, holding the Suns under 100 points
for just the second time this season and moving to 4-0 when holding opponents under the century mark.
Zach Randolph who missed four of the early season games showed exactly why he is so highly valued, as he chipped in with a match high 23 points and complemented that with an impressive 20 rebounds to seal his fifth 20-20 game of his career and third double-double
the season. Rudy g*y scored 22 points, his eighth-straight 20-point game to open the 2010-11 season.
The match started with both teams maintaining parity with each other. Although the Grizzlies took an early lead, the match generally hung in balance in the first quarter as the Suns kept pace with the Grizzlies never allowing them to take more than a four
point advantage. The quarter finished with the Grizzlies leading at 28-26.
The Grizzlies maintained an upper hand in the second quarter as well. Zach Randolph started to turn the heat on the Suns as the Grizzlies peeled off a 14-6 run midway through the quarter to lead at 46-36 with 4:06 to go till the break. Phoenix however reverberated
back, courtesy Hakim Warrick and Grant Hill, as the teams went into the locker room with the score poised at 55-52 in the favour of the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies scored six quick points at the start of the third quarter and were leading 72-60 with in the first five minutes, but Phoenix rallied back to cut the deficit to five points towards the end of the quarter.
Memphis though displayed their offensive firepower, as they responded with a 15-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to build the lead back to 18 points at 93-75, the Grizzlies’ largest advantage of the game, with 10:45 remaining in regulation time.
The Suns tried to rally back with a 7-0 run as they kept the Grizzlies scoreless for three minutes.
Goran Drajic layup shot with 5:03 brought the Suns within striking distance at 97-90 but the Grizzlies were not willing to concede a second straight loss to the Suns and they slipped in two 3-pointers within one minute to put a halt to Phoenix’s late surge.
The Grizzlies kept a tight leash on the Suns as the clock ticked down and Xavier Henry netted two free throws in the dying seconds to seal a 10 point victory for Memphis at 109-99.
Zach Randolph pulled off a brilliant all round performance in a match that witnessed six Memphis players featuring in double figures as they go 4-4 in the season.
Sun’s coach Alvin Gentry conceded that it was Zach Randolph that separated the two sides, “Zach's going to do that to a lot of people, not just us. He's a tremendous player,''
He said. “Probably as good an offensive rebounder as there is in the league. He's a real cerebral player. He knows angles, does a great job of using his body, and he's got an unbelievable soft touch.''
The Grizzlies, who entered the game leading the league in steals, forced turnovers and points off turnovers, lived up to their reputation, recording 12 steals and converting 23 Suns miscues into 31 points. Mike Conley led the defence with four steals to
go with 16 points. Rookie Xavier Henry set new career highs in points as he scored 14.
Grant Hill led the Suns with 19 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Steve Nash also made a mark with 16 points and 11 assists, while Jason Richardson scored more than 15 points in his seventh straight game as he scored 17 points.
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