San Antonio Spurs crash out of the playoffs: Memphis Grizzlies advance to the semi-finals with a 99-91 win
Golden State Warriors had done it four years ago. The Memphis Grizzlies did it this time around. On Friday night, the San Antonio Spurs etched their name on the wrong
side of history as they became the second team from Texas (Dallas Mavericks being the other) in four years that lost out to an 8th seeded team in the first round of playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies, who had given the regular-season best, Spurs a run for their money all series, finally accomplished the inevitable when they clinched the game-6
and sent the San Antonio Spurs crashing out of the playoffs in the first round. Spurs lost the game 99-91, and with it surrendered the series 4-2.
Zach Randolph had a double-double with game high 31 points and 11 rebounds. He was one of four Grizzlies' to reach double figures. For San Antonio, Tony Parker led
the scoring with 23 points followed by Manu Ginobili who had 16. Tim Duncan put up 12 points and 10 rebounds, a timid display by his standards.
In a do-or-die game for the Spurs, the fired up Grizzlies team and the FedEx Forum crowd proved too much. Memphis came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter
and sprinted to a game high lead of 14 with the score 20-6. San Antonio mounted a run of 10-4 in response, closing the quarter at 24 – 16.
Although the Spurs outscored the Grizzlies in the 2nd quarter, they could not take the lead. In fact they spent most of the game playing catch-up as the
Grizzlies kept scoring regularly. The score was very close throughout the third period, but Memphis did not let go of their lead despite San Antonio’s best efforts. When the third quarter ended at 66-70, the Spurs knew they needed a big push in the last quarter
to keep the series alive.
They traded shots with Memphis in the fourth and finally with 4:40 remaining on the clock, Tony Parker found Antonio McDyess, who knocked down a jumper to give the
Spurs their second lead of the game at 80-79. That, however, also proved to be last time they would lead as the Grizzlies hit back immediately, led by the dynamic Zach Randolph. Randolph ignited a 15-4 run as the Spurs crumbled before the might of the Grizzlies.
When the run ended, Spurs faced a deficit of 10 points with just over a minute remaining in the game. There was no late rally from the Spurs, who seemed resigned to their fate. O.J. Mayo ended the scoring in the game with his late free throws.
Spurs were considered favourites in the series but have been humbled by a resilient Grizzlies team. It is the first time the Grizzlies have progressed past the first
round in the history of the franchise.
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