Memphis Grizzlies Swat Charlotte Hornets in Double OT
By Nir Regev
Dec 12, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) and Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller(40) guard Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley(11) during the game at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Charlotte Hornets in double overtime 113-107. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
VC for Three
Seconds away from the game slipping in overtime. The ball gets pushed to the corner. There is an open man. A tried and tested player that’s experienced the trials, tribulations and scrutinized minutia of the game of basketball. A veteran that’s paid his dues in the relatively short career we call being an NBA superstar. He rises up in the air, shoots. For a moment the crowd is silenced, gasping for victory. It goes in!
Double over time, ladies and gentlemen. Repeat. We are now entering double overtime. Vince Carter delivered. Carter saved the day and won this game. He scored eight points, but no shot was more important than the one he took. There would be no second over time, no victory without the clutch VC three-pointer. We’d be reminiscing about went wrong, instead of so much that went right.
There’s a thin line between glorious victory and regretful loss. Tonight we dine on victory. We celebrate a team not willing to give up. A bystander might call it luck. The bystander does not understand the countless practice sessions, regular season years, and playoff games by-gone that included that very same shot. One shot, one win.
Tale of the Tape
In double overtime, Tony Allen received a phantom foul call on a three-point shot by Gary Neal. This lead Allen to converse with the ref, resulting in a technical foul. Neal would be given four shots at the free throw line. Yet as the wise Rasheed Wallace once said… Ball don’t lie. Neal would miss two out of four free throws. He’s a career 84.5% FT shooter, but was unable to ice those shots. It was the Hornets last true attempt to tie the game, and the Memphis Grizzlies would go on to seal the victory.
Zach Randolph was the leading scorer with 20 points on 7-12 shooting (6-9 from the line) and grabbed 11 rebounds. Randolph produced a vital block on Gerald Henderson‘s shot in the closing minutes of the second overtime session. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley were tied for the second leading scorers of the game, putting up 19 a piece. Gasol also swatted an impressive 6 Hornet shots. Tony Allen grabbed 10 rebounds in this game. The Memphis Grizzlies played like a well-coached and focused defensive squad.
On the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker and Gary Neal led the way. Walker had 28 points on 11-17 shooting (2-3 from the stripe) and 7 assists. Neal had 25 points on 8-15 shooting (8-11 from the line). Franchise player Al Jefferson scored a solid 16 points on 7-21 (2-2 from the line) along with 9 boards, 3 blocks and a steal. Henderson took reigns of the ball in the first overtime session but scored only 10 points on 4-12 shooting. Lance Stephenson was not seen in either overtime session. Stephenson finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds.
Player of the Game
Vince Carter
Fantasy Stat Dish
Points Leader: Zach Randolph – 20 points
Rebound Leader: Zach Randolph – 11 rebounds
Assists Leader: Mike Conley / Beno Udrih (Tied) – 6 assists
Steals Leader: Marc Gasol / Tony Allen (Tied) – 2 steals
Blocks Leader: Marc Gasol – 6 blocks
Three Point Shots Made Leader: Vince Carter / Courtney Lee – 2 Three-pointers
Memphis Grizzlies Current Record
18-4