Game 6 of a "back-and-forth" first-round series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs was played on Thursday night at Memphis, as the Grizzlies wanted to win a third straight home game this postseason against the Spurs, and force a Game 7. Once again, Memphis was without their primary perimeter defender Tony Allen, who is out due to calf injury. Coming into Thursday's matchup, the Grizzlies were 3-9 all-time in elimination games.
Spurs rally in fourth quarter
It was a closely contested game from the beginning. Midway through the first quarter the score was tied at 11-11, and even though Mike Conley and Marc Gasol only shot a combined 2 of 10 in the first quarter, the Grizzlies were down just two points after the first quarter.
The score was 24-22 for the Spurs. They continued to trade baskets in the second quarter as well, as neither team was able to pull away. Mike Conley hit a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer that put Memphis up 50-45 at the end of the second quarter. The Grizzlies set a franchise record, hitting eight three-pointers in the first half. Memphis increased their lead early in the third quarter and they were up by as many as 10 points (63-53) in that period.
However, San Antonio managed to cut that lead down to just one point with a 14-5 run (68-67). The Spurs held a 75-74 lead coming into the fourth quarter. The home team would regain the lead early in the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run (85-79) and midway through the final period it was 88-81 for the Grizzlies.
The Spurs then answered with a run of their own, and with Kawhi Leonard's eighth straight points, San Antonio went on a 22-8 run to close out the game. The final score was 103-96 for the Spurs. They had a big rebounding advantage in this one (46-28) and 17 second-chance points. It was a game with 16 ties (four in the fourth quarter) and nine lead changes.
Tony Parker turns back the clock
Tony Parker played a great game on Thursday night. He hit his first six shots early in the game and finished with 27 points on 11-for-14 shooting. He was perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line and he also added four assists. Parker scored in double figures in five games during the series. Kawhi Leonard led all scorers in Game 6 with 29 points.
Leonard added nine rebounds and four assists as well.
Five players finished in double-digit scoring for the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game of the season. Mike Conley led them with 26 points and five assists. Conley scored 20 or more points in five straight playoff games, the longest such streak in franchise history. Marc Gasol added 18 points and six assists, while Zach Randolph finished with 13 points.
San Antonio advances to the second round and they will face the Houston Rockets. Game 1 of that series will be played on Monday night in San Antonio.