Grizzlies extend Spurs’ skid to 3 (AP)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Despite the San Antonio Spurs missing some key pieces,
the Memphis Grizzlies still sense their confidence rising after beating the team
with the NBA’s best record.

Tony Allen(notes) and Zach Randolph(notes) had 23 points apiece, and the Grizzlies sent
San Antonio to its third straight loss with a 111-104 victory over the Spurs on
Sunday night.

“To be a playoff team, you have to be tough. That’s requisite number one,”
said Memphis reserve forward Shane Battier(notes), who had 10 points. “I think we
showed we are a tough team. I would like to play a little smarter. That’s the
next step. But you have to have toughness, and there’s no doubt in this team’s
toughness.”

Randolph also grabbed 11 rebounds for Memphis, which currently holds the
eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. If the Grizzlies earn
the No. 8 seed, they will likely face the NBA-leading Spurs in the opening round
of the playoffs.

And Memphis is well-aware of that.

“They understand, just like we do, that we could possibly match up with
them in the playoffs in a month or so,” said Memphis guard Mike Conley(notes). “For
us to handle them the way we did and come back in the fourth quarter and make
some big plays and big stops says a lot. That’s a good team, and it says they
are not going to have an easy run if we do play them in the playoffs.”

O.J. Mayo(notes) added 17 points for Memphis, Mike Conley had 12 and Marc Gasol(notes) 11.

The Spurs, already missing Tim Duncan(notes) because of a sprained left ankle,
played the bulk of the second half without leading scorer Manu Ginobili(notes), who
sustained a left quad contusion.

San Antonio has now lost all three games since Duncan went out with the
injury.

“We don’t have time to worry about that,” Spurs guard Tony Parker(notes) said of
the injuries. “Timmy is not coming back anytime soon, so we just have to keep
playing and make sure we pound that rock. Hopefully, it will go our way.”

George Hill(notes) matched his career high with 30 points on 9-of-12 shooting for
the Spurs. Parker had 20 points and six assists, and Richard Jefferson(notes) scored
13.

Hill said Ginobili’s absence didn’t necessarily change his approach to the
game. He said coach Gregg Popovich has put a little more emphasis on Hill
looking for his shot.

“I had the mindset coming in the whole time of really trying to be
aggressive and try to help the team create something on the offensive and
defensive end,” Hill said. “Unfortunately, Manu went down and we had to step
up play. But we just didn’t do it.”

Memphis’ victory, coupled with Houston’s 125-119 loss to the Miami Heat,
extended the Grizzlies’ hold on the playoff spot to 2 1/2 games over the
ninth-place Rockets.

Down the stretch, it was Allen, who finished the night missing only one of
his 10 shots, and Randolph who led Memphis, erasing a five-point San Antonio
lead with 6:14 left.

Hill did everything he could to keep the Spurs in the lead, but it wasn’t
enough as Memphis closed the game with a 22-10 run.

“I was really proud of them,” said Popovich, who wasn’t around to see the
end of the game after a second-quarter ejection. “We’ve had three tough road
games. They pulled together pretty well and gave it their best shot. They just
came out on the short end.”

Memphis held a 55-50 lead at halftime, but Popovich had headed to the locker
room with 2:10 left after two quick technicals. Popovich got both technicals
after he became upset that no foul was called as Ginobili collided with Gasol,
who stole the ball leading to Leon Powe’s(notes) bucket.

Parker kept San Antonio close with six early points after halftime, getting
him to double figures, while Ginobili continued to struggle, limping from his
collision with Gasol. Ginobili had put up only three shots by the midway point
of the third quarter. Ginobili finally gave up the effort at that point with the
Spurs trailing 68-61. He scored only 2 points.

Parker continued to get to the basket, scoring 13 points in the third to
keep San Antonio close, but Memphis still held an 81-77 lead entering the fourth
period.

The Spurs opened the fourth with seven straight points to erase the
advantage. Mayo was the only one scoring for Memphis with eight points by the
midpoint of the quarter.

Hill was offsetting Mayo’s offense, helping San Antonio maintain its lead.
That was when Memphis began feeding Randolph, who was scoring inside on several
San Antonio players, helping kickstart Memphis’ rally.

“We made a great run, and they did a good job of taking care of home court
and having to run back,” Hill said.

The stretch play was a different mentality than previous years, when the
younger Memphis players would have buckled after giving up a lead in the fourth
quarter against a top team.

“This just shows how far we’ve come,” Randolph said. “Last year, we
probably would have let the game slip. We would have put our heads down. This
year, we just battle it out. We don’t put our head down. We keep our heads up
and continue to battle.”

For players like Conley, it is not only a difference in play and execution
down the stretch, it is a different mindset. The win assured Memphis of its
first .500 season since 2005-06, the last time the Grizzlies went to the
playoffs.

“To see the team progress and see where we are now, it’s a night-and-day
difference,” Conley said. “This locker room is alive, and the atmosphere is a
lot different. The fans are excited.

“I’m not satisfied, but it’s a great feeling to be in the position we’re in
right now.”

Notes: Popovich remains two games behind Red Auerbach for second place for
most wins with a single franchise. Auerbach had 795 during his days as coach of
the Boston Celtics. Popovich has 793. Former Utah coach Jerry Sloan is in first
place with 1,127 during his tenure leading the Jazz. … Memphis is 10-7 without
second-leading scorer Rudy Gay(notes), who had season-ending shoulder surgery last
week. … Tiago Splitter(notes) started his third game in place of Duncan. … Sunday’s
game wrapped up a three-game stretch for the Grizzlies against division leaders.
Memphis won at Boston (Atlantic) and lost at Chicago (Central) before defeating
the Spurs (Southwest). … Memphis starting F Sam Young(notes) sustained a sprained
right ankle in the first half and didn’t return. … Assistant coach Mike
Budenholzer took over when Popovich was ejected.