Social media night in FedExForum came with a hashtag that’s trending for the Grizzlies.
#DoubleDigitLeadsDontMatter
Interim Griz coach J.B. Bickerstaff watched with frustration while their 20-point lead evaporated Saturday night. Memphis scored fewer points in the second and third quarters combined (32) than it did in the opening period (34) before suffering a 102-101 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook’s two free throws with five seconds left in the extra session provided the final score. The Grizzlies were ahead by a point with eight seconds remaining but JaMychal Green missed two free throws that could have extended the lead.
The final moments in regulation were just as dramatic.
Trailing 92-90, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was fouled with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Gasol converted the first foul shot but missed the second. Griz guard Tyreke Evans grabbed the rebound and he got hacked trying to score with 1.8 ticks left on the clock.
Memphis was down a point when Evans misfired on his first foul shot. He knotted the score at 92 by making the second free throw. Overtime ensued after Griz guard Andrew Harrison blocked Westbrook on a game-winning attempt from beyond the three-point arc.
The game was tied at 98 with a minute left in the extra session when an Evans 3-pointer gave the Grizzlies a lead for good.
Here are five other quick thoughts from the game.
Griz offense came and went
There were plenty of smiles in the arena in the first half. The Grizzlies’ offense had been anemic but their crisp ball movement and execution paid big dividends. Memphis took a 39-19 lead with 10:04 left in the second quarter, and the 20-point advantage was the team's largest lead in a game this season. But the Grizzlies mostly stood around in the second half and were doomed by questionable shot selection in the third period.
Westbrook had a rough night offensively
Westbrook put on a triple-double performance, but he labored to score from the opening tip. Westbrook misfired on eight of his first 10 field goal attempts and mostly took wild shots. He uncharacteristically struggled to finish in the lane. Westbrook finished with 20 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. But he made just seven of his 29 shot attempts..
Griz played without Parsons
Memphis forward Chandler Parsons, and his 52 percent shooting overall (47 from three-point range) sat because of rest. Parsons’ maintenance program doesn’t allow for him to play in back-to-back games.
Griz defense shined early
Memphis allowed just 19 points in the opening quarter by swarming Oklahoma City’s primary playmakers and protecting the paint. The Thunder took a number of contested, long-range shots against the Grizzlies’ spirited defense. Oklahoma City, which shot less than 40 percent most of the night, began to make up for its poor overall shooting in the half court by routinely beating Memphis down the court for transition baskets.
Thunder’s George sat out
Thunder forward Paul George was a game-time decision but missed his second consecutive game with a right calf contusion. George took jump shots before the game to test the injury but he was not cleared by Thunder medical staff.
Odds and ends
Griz guard Tyreke Evans recorded his third double-double of the season with 29 points and a career-high tying 13 rebounds to go with five assists… Oklahoma City earned its second-largest comeback victory in franchise history. …Memphis scored just nine points on 3-of-20 shooting in the third quarter. That’s the Grizzlies’ season-low for any quarter this season.
Quotes of note
Griz coach J.B. Bickerstaff on missed opportunities: “We had our chances. Over and over again, we had our chances. We can’t afford to let these types of games slip. We had our opportunities. We let it slip away from us.”
Griz center Marc Gasol on the team’s frustration: “Winning is never easy. You have to draw a line in the sand, and obviously take a stand and learn the habits that it takes to win games. It’s really hard, but it’s a thing that you have to figure out on your own. You have to trust the guys around you. When they tell you something, or a call, or a play, or even schemes that we walked through before the game, you have to be able to trust it. We can only get better.”
Griz guard Andrew Harrison on losing: “We’re out there playing as hard as we can. We all want to win so bad. When you can’t finish it out like tonight, it hurts.”
Thunder coach Billy Donovan on coming back from a 20-point deficit: “Because of the number of possessions, because of how fast teams play, leads like that are not insurmountable anymore and you see it happening more and more. You just got to play and keep battling and sometimes you have the chance to change the momentum of the game. I thought a key part of the game was maybe the last six minutes in the second quarter. When we got down big we we’re able to at least go in the locker room down 11 and then we started the third quarter well.”
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol describes what went wrong Saturday night when they blew a 20-point lead and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans talks about the state of the team following an overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green talks to the media after they snapped an 11-game losing streak. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans talks about the team's effort Monday night during a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley describes the rehabilitation process for his sore left Achilles. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley talks about his reaction to coach David Fizdale's firing. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace talks about why he fired Coach David Fizdale. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
ESPN first reported that Memphis Grizzlies had let David Fizdale go Monday afternoon. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Grizzlies coach David Fizdale describes what Mike Conley's absence will mean. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies guard Ben McLemore describes his performance in a loss to the Houston Rockets. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Forward Chandler Parsons describes his breakout performance in a Grizzlies uniform. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies rookie Dillon Brooks reacts to having an impressive performance in his first NBA regular-season game. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons says the fans booing him were tasteless. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green says he's 'blessed' to receive a two-year, $16 million contract. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal
Marc Gasol after overtime loss to OKC
Tyreke Evans on Grizzlies morale
JaMychal Green after Griz ended losing streak
Tyreke Evans after Griz beat T'wolves
Mike Conley on Achilles rehab
Mike Conley on Fizdale firing
Griz GM Chris Wallace on firing Coach David Fizdale
David Fizdale out as Memphis Grizzlies coach
Griz coach Fiz on impact of Conley's absence
Ben McLemore after Grizzlies debut
Chandler Parsons after big night
Dillon Brooks after NBA debut
Chandler Parsons addresses FedExForum boos
JaMychal Green talks about his new deal
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