Suns Go Cold in 2OT, Memphis Grizzlies Survive 122-110

Jan 11, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) guards Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the game at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies rallied past the fast-paced Phoenix Suns when it mattered the most on Sunday night by the final score of 122-110.

Even in a run-and-gun flow of game, Zach Randolph has had some incredible production lines in box scores versus Phoenix in past seasons as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. Z-Bo is back in action off of a sore knee and he has not missed a beat.

Randolph registered a double-double in the loss to New Orleans a few days ago and he earned another on Sunday with a 27-point, 17-rebound performance. When Marc Gasol was not feeling it, Z-Bo turned it into overdrive.

Grizzlies fans have been receiving plenty of free basketball this season due to all of the overtime and even multiple-overtime games. Tonight was no different, going into two overtime periods before a winner was decided.

Not only are the Phoenix Suns a good, young team, but each victory is a little sweeter in Memphis when it comes against a Western Conference rival. The Grizzlies took care of business while being without two counterparts as they transition into the “Jeff Green era.”

Below, you can find all of the details of the grind from the Sunday evening battle on the hardwood.

First Half

The game tipped off and Memphis soared to an early 14-4 start, led by an attacking Zach Randolph. Randolph registered a double-double in the loss to New Orleans a few days ago and he was quickly off to a great chance at recording another double-double tonight.

The score read 22-17 Grizzlies at the end of the first period, with Z-Bo scoring 12 in the quarter.

Phoenix can light up the score board quickly, but the Grizz made sure to not let that happen, yet Memphis could not pull away to a large lead either. Regardless, this game looked a lot better than Friday night’s lackluster performance against the Pelicans.

Z-Bo added a few more baskets in the second quarter to finish the half with 18 points and six rebounds. Eight different Memphis players scored at least two points each in the first half.

Markieff Morris was the high-point man for Phoenix at the half with 10 of his own. The Suns had nine players of their own that had scored in the first 24 minutes of the game.

The halftime score was 51-41 in favor of the Grizzlies.

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Second Half

The majority of the third quarter was played with about the same margin between the two teams for the whole 12 minutes–a 10-point differential. The Grizzlies starters carried Memphis through three quarters, although Marc Gasol had shot a measly two of eight field goal attempts through three quarters of play.

Randolph notched the double-double mark with his 10th rebound with more than two minutes remaining in the third period. He was not done just yet with his stat-stuffing night.

The scoreboard showed a 75-66 Grizzly lead heading into the last quarter.

The Suns managed to cut the deficit to just three points halfway through the fourth quarter. The Grizz bench could not contain the Phoenix surge; therefore, Memphis put the starters back into the game.

Despite Gasol’s shooting woes, his intangibles helped the Grizz build their lead once again. He assisted on a Randolph turnaround jumper with 4:28 to play–then a seven-point Grizzly lead.

Phoenix would then commit three fouls in a 19-second span. Courtney Lee topped these advantages with his own jumper, bringing Memphis’ lead back up to the nine at 95-86. The game was not over just yet, though.

P.J. Tucker would hit a three-pointer for the Suns, which Mike Conley followed up with a turnover. The Grizzlies would also have a few missed field goals leading into the two-minute warning.

Markieff Morris once again pushed his squad to within three points of the Grizz. Conley would answer with two more for the scoreboard. Just like the previous three quarters, almost every part of this game was back-and-forth between the two clubs.

The game would turn into a free-throw contest in the final minute, where the Grizz did not blink. Unfortunately, Markieff Morris would nail a three-pointer and Conley would have yet another turnover. Eric Bledsoe, whom had had a very quiet night, made a jumpshot to bring his team within one point of the Grizzlies–the closest they had been since the first quarter when the game began.

Jan 11, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen (9) guards Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas (3) during the game at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Vince Carter would miss his first free-throw with 19 seconds remaining in the game. He made the second attempt.

Phoenix would get a basket from P.J. Tucker to tie the game at 101 with 5.9 seconds. Tucker would now have nine points, all of which came in the fourth and final quarter of the ballgame.

Mike Conley missed the Grizzlies’ last shot attempt in regulation, so that meant another overtime game was about to be played. Memphis has been accustomed to those this season.

Overtime

The overtime period became a battle of the backcourts. Mike Conley and Tony Allen scored the first five points for Memphis while Isaiah Thomas and P.J. Tucker added four of their own, collectively.

The score favored Memphis at 106-105 with 1:35 remaining on the clock.

Conley would receive another turnover after losing the tip on a jump-ball situation. The Suns called a timeout and so the Grizzlies would take Randolph out for the possession since he had been playing with five fouls.

Eric Bledsoe would make a three-point shot with the shot clock winding down. The Grizzlies trailed by two with 33.3 seconds remaining in overtime.

Soon after passing the ball inbounds, Conley would turn the ball over for his sixth time of the night. Thankfully for Memphis, Isaiah Thomas would turn the ball over as well, also for his sixth turnover of the night. Goran Dragic would then be called for a foul–his sixth. That mistake disqualified him from the game.

Courtney Lee made the first free-throw. Then the second. It became a tie game at 108 with 16 seconds left for one team to outdo the other.

Eric Bledsoe would take the last shot of the game–a brick. That brought up another overtime.

Second Overtime

The Suns showed early on in the second extra period that they had were gassed. The Grizzlies’ grit-and-grind game plan had run them into the ground.

Memphis would go on a 9-0 run to begin 20T. It would end with the run climbing to 14-2. That would be the ball game.

Memphis won this matchup by a final score of 122-110, overcoming many unfortunate turnovers.

Overall, both teams showed great balanced scoring production, but Zach Randolph was the overpowering force that pushed the Memphis Grizzlies to victory.

The box score, produced by ESPN, can be found here.

Key Game Notes

•  This game was the official Suns debut for Phoenix’s newest addition, center Brandan Wright.
• Memphis’ Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter were both not in the lineup due to them soon to be outgoing in the three-team trade with Boston and New Orleans.
• The Grizz had 24 turnovers, compared to the Suns’ 20.
• Memphis shot 48% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc (made nine three-pointers).
• Phoenix attempted 35 three-pointers (22.9%).
• Vince Carter made one of eight shot attempts off the Grizz bench.
• Isaiah Thomas scored 20 points off the Suns bench to go with his seven turnovers.
• Alex Len, after being rumored to be in the Brandan Wright trade, produced 14 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix.
• The Suns had three players foul out (Markieff Morris, Goran Dragic, and Alex Len).
• The Grizzlies are 3-0 this season now when they play a multiple-overtime game.
• The Memphis Grizzlies are now sitting at 26-11 on the season–tied with Houston for third-best in the Western Conference.

Fantasy Watch: Grizzlies Edition

•  Zach Randolph: 27 points, 11/16 shooting, 17 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, seven turnovers, six fouls
• Mike Conley: 25 points, 9/18 shooting, seven rebounds, eight assists, one steal, seven turnovers
• Tony Allen: 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and one big birthday victory!
• Marc Gasol: 12 points, 5/14 shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, four blocks

Next Game

The Grizzlies will have a couple days off until their next game, which will be welcomed. This may give Memphis enough time to receive veteran Jeff Green and rookie Russ Smith via the recent three-team trade that is to be completed officially on Monday. The incoming players will need to undergo physicals before they can suit up in the three shades of Memphis blue. The next foe in line for the Grizzlies are the 16-21 Brooklyn Nets with the game being played in New York.

Stay tuned to BealeStreetBears.com to see when Jeff Green and Russ Smith will be able to suit up for the Grizzlies.

Go Grizz!