Top Ten Memphis Grizzlies Games of 2012 Part One

April 2, 2012; Oklahoma City OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) shoots the ball during the fourth quarter against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) at Chesapeake Energy Arena Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports

It is hard to believe 2012 is almost at an end. It has been a great year for the Memphis Grizzlies with plenty of memorable moments. Lets take a look at the top 10 most memorable games of the 2012 calender year for the Memphis Grizzlies. We will look at the games my associate Chuck Livingston and myself ranked as Number 10 through Number 6. We will discuss the top 5 games in another article. Now if you disagree with our rankings or games we chose, let us know. It is always fun to discuss Grizzlies’ basketball with passionate fans.

10.) December 4 vs Phoenix Suns

The Grizzlies had just come off a heartbreaking loss Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs in overtime 99-95. The following Tuesday, Memphis hosted the Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies were tied for the best record in the league at 12-3. The 7-11 Suns had lost 3 games in a row.

There was a hangover from the tough loss against the Spurs, as the Suns jumped out to an early 30-18 lead and actually led by as many as 16. The Grizzlies closed the gap to 52-45 at the half.

The Suns maintained a small lead until the Grizzlies took the lead for the first time since early in the first at 92-91 with just over a minute left in the game. The Suns take a 94-92 lead, but then Memphis forward Rudy Gay tied it up at 94 with 15 seconds left. Neither team would score again in regulation sending it into overtime for the second straight game for the Grizzlies. Memphis would dominate in the extra period outscoring the Suns 14-4, allowing just 4 free throws. The Grizzlies would escape with the hard fought 108-98 win. Forward Zach Randolph had a monster game with 38 points, 22 rebounds, and 3 blocks. (KL)

9.) January 16 vs Chicago Bulls

The 2012 Martin Luther King Day Game against the Chicago Bulls- The Grizzlies started their 2011-2012 lockout-shortened regular season off slowly. They started 1-2 before a New Year’s Day game in Chicago against the Bulls.

The Bulls won. By 40 104-64. And the Grizzlies also saw their best player, Zach Randolph, leave the game with a knee injury.

So when the Bulls rolled into Memphis just over two weeks after that game, nobody thought that the Grizzlies could hang, even though the Bulls were without league MVP Derrick Rose.

The Grizzlies ran the Bulls out of the gym and notched their biggest win to date in 2012, 102-86 on their way to home-court advantage in a playoff round for the first time ever.(CL)

8.) March 25 at Los Angeles Lakers

The Grizzlies had just finished up their most disappointing performance of the season on a Saturday afternoon against the Clippers.

Memphis got out-gritted and grinded on the way to a 101-85 loss. Things weren’t going to get any easier the next night on an ESPN national telecast against the Lakers.

Whatever plagued Memphis against the Clippers wasn’t readily apparent, but they were able to shake it in a hurry as they got well in a big way and beat the Lakers 102-96 on their home floor. (CL)

7.) November 11 vs Miami Heat

After a season opening loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Grizzlies proceeded to win 4 straight games. However, many thought the winning streak would come to an end as Memphis was hosting the defending World Champion Miami Heat.

It didn’t happen as the Grizzlies ran the Heat out of the building. Memphis would never trail in the game and the last time Miami was even was at 14-14. Guard Wayne Ellington had a career night as he buried 7 three pointers and scored 25 points in the 104-86 rout. Randolph had a double double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

It was the start of a fantastic week for the Grizzlies as they would beat the defending Western Conference Champions the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road and the hot starting New York Knicks in Memphis by 10 points each. (KL)

6.) April 2 at Oklahoma City Thunder

On the same night as the college basketball national championship game, the Grizzlies announced that they had arrived in a big way. The Grizzlies traveled to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Facing the same team that eliminated them from the 2011 playoffs, the Grizzlies raced out to a lead early on and held on to a big 94-88 win against the Western Conference favorite (and eventual conference champion).

The win would kick start a 13-3 April for the Grizzlies to finish out the regular season and give the Grizzlies the #4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  (CL)