Facing the possibility of being down 3-0 in the first round of this Western Conference playoff series, the Memphis Grizzlies played their well known, physical and rugged style of basketball. Game 3 was played at Memphis in their FedExForum Arena in front of a sellout crowd of 18,000 fans. Memphis was shorthanded once again as Tony Allen was out due to a calf injury while Chandler Parsons didn't play due to a knee injury.
Grit and Grind basketball
It was a close first quarter as the teams went back and forth and neither team was able to take a big lead.
It was a tie game after the first 12 minutes of the game as the score was 21-21. It was pretty much the same outcome in the second quarter. Teams traded baskets and exchanged leads before Memphis went on a 6-2 run to close the second quarter. Zach Randolph scored 11 points in that period. It was 50-46 for the home team at halftime. The third quarter was all about the Grizzlies. They outscored the Spurs 31-17 in that big third period and pulled away in this one. Spurs missed 11 of their first 17 shots in the quarter. Going into the fourth quarter the score was 81-63 for David Fizdale's team. After that big third quarter, Memphis never looked back on Thursday night. They held a 20-point lead midway through the fourth quarter (95-75) and ended up winning this game 105-94.
Grizzlies had 21 team assists and shot 50.6% from the field. They were 9-22 from the three-point line and had only five turnovers for the game - the second-lowest total in franchise postseason history.
Conley and Randolph deliver for Memphis
Five players finished in double-digit scoring for the Grizzlies in Game 3. Mike Conley led all scorers with 24 points and also added eight assists.
He has now scored at least 13 points and dished at least 7 assists in all three games this series. Zach Randolph scored 21 points on 9-16 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds. Marc Gasol contributed with 21 points and six assists. The three of them combined for 66 points.
After averaging 34.5 points in the past two games, Kawhi Leonard was held to only 18 points and four rebounds in Game 3.
LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. Tony Parker was held scoreless on four shots and he also had a turnover in just under 19 minutes. He averaged 15 points through the first two games.
This win gave David Fizdale his first postseason victory and also marked the Grizzlies’ first win over the Spurs in the playoffs since April 2011. Game 4 of this series will be played on Saturday night in Memphis.
