Grizzlies Dethrone Kings

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Elizabeth Smith

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Last night the Memphis Grizzlies (2-2) took on the Sacramento Kings (1-2) at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings were without All-Star DeMarcus Cousins due to a strained right Achilles tendon. The Grizzlies started Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph. The Kings started Rajon Rondo, Ben McLemore, Rudy Gay, Willie Cauley-Stein, and former Grizz Kosta Koufos.

After the fiasco that was the Golden State game, Grizz were due to come back with a good game. They got that in the Sacramento game.

Zach Randolph and company took out their frustrations on the Kings, going back to the basics of Grizz basketball with dogged defense and rebounding. They won the rebounding as well as the points in the paint battle handily. The Grizz took over with a 25-11 edge in the 2^nd quarter and never looked back.

Winning the game 103-89, the Grizz at least temporarily threw a little water on the brush fire that resulted from the previous night’s game beatdown. Grizz ended up shooting 48.2% from the field, 80% from the charity stripe, and 15% from 3. Yes I said 15% from 3 🙁 The Grizz are now at 3-2 on the season. Up next, they face the Trail Blazers in Portland on Thursday on TNT at 9:30pm CST.

Notes:

*Former Grizz Kosta Koufos tallied 11 points on 5-6 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds, and picked up 5 personal fouls in 26:21.

*Kings F/C DeMarcus Cousins is expected to return for the Kings Friday against Houston.

*Marc Gasol left the game after playing only 17:38 with neck spasms. Coach Joerger said after the game that Gasol has been dealing with what he called a ‘neck kink’ for a while. He aggravated it when he had a collision with Rudy Gay in the first quarter but came back into the game to play in the second quarter. He was ruled out at the half and Brandan Wright started the second half in his place. Before exiting the game for good, Gasol had 8 points on 4-8 shooting, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and one block.

*Props to Grizz fans in Sacramento for repping the team. GrizzNation is errrrrrrwhere!

*According to Zach Randolph in postgame, execution and getting into their plays faster is essential to Grizz success.

*Grizz held Kings to less than 100 points for the first time this season.

*Rudy Gay led Sacramento with 19 points and 5 rebounds.

*Grizz piled on 50 points in the paint and held the Kings to just 32.

*Sacramento (60%) attempted 40 free throws to the Grizzlies (80%) 25. In fact, Sac attempted 12 free throws before the Grizz attempted their first.

*The Grizz grabbed 50 rebounds while the Kings grabbed only 35. The game high rebound leader was JaMychal Green with 12 boards (4 offensive). Closely following him was Zach Randolph with 11. Kings rebound leader was Willie Cauley-Stein with 7.

*The Grizzlies blocked 7 shots (Brandan Wright 4, Matt Barnes 2, Marc Gasol 1) to the Kings 1.

*Brandan Wright is all over the floor. He ended up with 10 points on 4-5 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks. It’s nice to see that level of athleticism on the floor.

*Matt Barnes made life miserable for Marco Belinelli while guarding him. Barnes still hasn’t gotten into a shooting rhythm yet (7 points on 1-9 shooting for the night) but that Tony Allen-like tenacious defense is capable of causing frustration for many an opposing player.

*JaMychal Green had a great game. He ended up with 12 points on 4-7 shooting, but grabbed 12 rebounds and had 1 steal in 19:58. This was also the first double-double of his career. Grizz brass made the right decision in keeping him.

Worth the tech imo. j-mych!! pic.twitter.com/W1wAYkO6w5

— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) November 4, 2015

Tony Allen hit a 3 and it was glorious. Also, does anyone else get nervous whenever he gets left open beyond the arc?

My reaction when @aa000G9 shoots a 3. #Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/Pd93aBQI2R

— Ken Newhouse (@BealeStreetKen) November 4, 2015

*Courtney Lee came out of nowhere for this beauty

According to @nbastats, that is Courtney Lee's first putback dunk since the 2011-12 season.

— Ross Wooden (@RossWooden) November 4, 2015

With 14 points and 5 rebounds, CLee is in prime contract year form.

*Zach Randolph looked like vintage Zbo. He had 20 points on 9-14 shooting, 11 rebounds and 2 assists on the night. For those that insisted it would be smart to bench/get rid of Zbo because he had dropped off so drastically, was out of shape, etc, my timeline had this to say:

Zach Randolph recorded his 262nd 20-10 game. Only active players with more are Duncan (498), Garnett (445), Nowitzki (314), D-Howard (290).

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) November 4, 2015