Grizzlies Beat Nuggets with a Throwback to Grit and Grind

Lead by the inspired play of Zach Randolph, the Memphis Grizzlies overpowered the Nuggets.

Their fearlessness and relentlessness returned. Maybe it was never truly gone. Undoubtedly, on this night, Grit and Grind was more than a played out catch phrase when the Grizzlies got back in the mud to beat the Denver Nuggets 91-84.

In Friday night’s game, the legends of Grizzlies’ yore resurfaced, and when they showed up, they showed out before a raucous crowd at the Grindhouse.

A few waves of nostalgia monsooned into the familiar rush of impending violence, the absolute certainty that a Memphis Grizzly won’t be the first man to back down, the roar of a frenzied crowd ready to blast “Whoop that trick” at an opponent who clearly wants none of it.

It’s only happened a few times this season, but Friday night’s game provided a showcase of vintage Grizzlies basketball.

Immune to season-long criticisms bemoaning and bleating he’s old and washed up, Zach Randolph refuses to accept the notion that his game has been reduced to a mere relic of an obsolete style of basketball.

Doing what he does best, Z Bo muscled his way to 24 points and six rebounds in only 28 minutes of action. He sank feathery fadeaways from the elbow and bulldozed his way through the paint for tough baskets. When a Nuggets player rejected his shot, he corralled the rebound and converted a second-effort basket. Speaking of blocked shots, Randolph swatted a Denver player’s shot attempt not once, not twice but three times.

That’s right, Zach Randolph, who entered the game with a grand total of two blocks for the entire season, bolstered the Grizzlies defense with three blocks. It was that kind of night.

The shorthanded Grizzlies also needed a big game from Tony Allen, and the Grindfather didn’t disappoint.

Allen ignited a defensive effort that held the Nuggets to a total of seven (7) points for the second quarter. To the delight of the home crowd and Grizzlies fans everywhere, Tony ripped steals, finished fast breaks, and threw down a couple thunderous dunks. He supplied his signature smothering defense and unceasing energy, the qualities that have endeared him to so many of us. He ran down court with his hand and index finger held high reminding us all again of how he earned his First Team All-Defense accolades.

Allen started at shooting guard, played 38 minutes, and finished with 10 points (4-of-5 fg), nine boards, and three steals.

Getting the start and the lion’s share of minutes at point guard, Mario Chalmers picked up the slack for a backcourt missing Mike Conley and Courtney Lee. Ready and willing to throw down with a player twice his size when a scuffle broke out between Chalmers and Jusuf Nurkic, ‘Rio delivered the knockout blows by sticking not one, but two three-point daggers in the game’s final two minutes.

Denver called a time out to try to regroup, but Tag Team’s “Whoomp There It Is” had already begun to blare through the arena at full volume, a celebratory anthem that reassured Grizzlies fans that everything but the final margin of victory had already been decided.

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Despite yet another lackadaisical third quarter for the Grizzlies, the team proved its mettle by owning the fourth quarter, and ultimately the game. Marc Gasol struggled to hit shots for a second consecutive game, going 5-for-17 from the field, but his 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and five steals were enough to help his team win.

Matt Barnes and Jeff Green knocked down three triples apiece, and gave the Grizzlies some much needed wing scoring with 15 points and 16 points, respectively. Barnes shot 4-for-7 from the field, while Green shot a less efficient 4-for-13.

It wasn’t pretty, with both teams shooting under 37 percent, but it was a throwback to the type of gutsy wins that have defined the Grizzlies’ success over the past few seasons.

The Grizzlies continue their homestand with a matchup versus the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.