Grizzlies beat Celtics 90-87 in Boston (AP)

BOSTON (AP)—The Memphis Grizzlies are still in the playoff chase, and
they’re doing it with a couple of guys who know a little bit about the
postseason.

Leon Powe(notes) and Tony Allen(notes), members of the Celtics’ 2008 championship team,
returned to Boston on Wednesday night to help the Memphis Grizzlies win 90-87
and solidify their hold on the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western
Conference.

“When you can come on the road and beat a great team like that, and do it
on the defensive end, it’s huge for a young, up-and-coming team,” said Powe,
who scored 13 points. “That just adds to our confidence.”

Marc Gasol(notes) scored 11 points with 11 rebounds and Zach Randolph(notes) had 13 and
eight for Memphis, which improved to one-half game behind seventh-place New
Orleans in the West. The Grizzlies remained two games ahead of ninth-place
Houston, which beat Golden State later Wednesday.

Powe, who spent the first three years of his career in Boston, saw little
action in Cleveland before the Cavaliers released him to sign with Memphis on
March 5. He came off the bench to score 13 points in 17 minutes—his best game
since signing with the Grizzlies.

“Leon Powe was the baddest man on the planet tonight,” Celtics coach Doc
Rivers said. “It’s not like they tricked us. They just drove through somebody
and scored.”

Allen spent the first six years of his career in Boston before signing with
Memphis as a free agent last summer. He scored nine with five assists.

“They’re both really tough, physical guys. They’re veteran guys who have
been to the mountaintop and won,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “This is
our second year in a row coming in here and getting a win, so this is special.
But I’m sure for those guys this is extra special.”

Paul Pierce(notes) scored 22 for Boston, but he missed an off-balance 3-pointer at
the buzzer that could have sent the game into overtime and the Celtics lost for
the fifth time in nine games and fell one game behind Chicago (51-19) in the
race for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Rajon Rondo(notes) had six points,
seven steals, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, but he missed an ill-advised
one-handed floater in the lane with 18 seconds left and Boston trailing 88-87.

“It’s so easy to second-guess it now,” said Rivers, who didn’t call a
timeout because he thought Rondo was going to pass it to Pierce. “I just think
your best offensive player should always touch the ball on the last
possession.”

Memphis led 84-77 in the fourth quarter before Boston cut the deficit to one
point, 86-85, with just over 3 minutes left on Pierce’s 3-pointer. Gasol made it
a three-point game before Glen “Big Baby” Davis made a jumper with 52 seconds
left to cut the lead to one point.

Davis had a chance to put Boston ahead, but Gasol blocked it, and then Gasol
stole a pass from Ray Allen(notes) with 80 seconds left before converting a layup to
make it 88-85. Davis’ jumper made it a one-point game again, then Rondo
rebounded a Memphis miss and brought the ball the length of the court before
floating up a one-handed shot that bounced off the back of the rim.

The Celtics sent Mike Conley(notes) to the line with 14 seconds left, and he made
both free throws. Davis’ 3-point attempt to tie it missed, but after Gasol was
fouled he missed both free throws with 4.6 seconds left, giving Boston the ball
and a chance to send the game into overtime.

Boston inbounded the ball to Pierce but he couldn’t get off a clear shot.

“He is one of those prolific-type dudes,” Tony Allen said. “He’s hit
shots like that in his career. He missed and we got the win.”

After falling behind 36-26 in the second quarter, the Celtics scored eight
straight points—including back-to-back 3-pointers from Allen— to make it a
two-point game. It was 38-34 when Boston again scored eight in a row to take the
lead before Memphis scored twice in the final minute to make it 45-44 at the
half.

Notes: Powe and Tony Allen received a warm welcome from the crowd at
introductions. … Ray Allen wore a bandage above his right eye. He received
seven stitches after being elbowed by Jared Jeffries(notes) in Monday night’s game
against the New York Knicks. Allen and Pierce are the only Celtics to play in
all 70 games this season. … The Grizzlies said on Tuesday that No. 2 scorer
Rudy Gay(notes) would miss the rest of the season to have surgery on his partially
dislocated left shoulder.