Grizzlies maul Hornets in Charlotte, 105-90

The Grizzlies haven’t been the same after their 106-96 loss to the Bucks on November 13th. They were 4-5 and 0-3 on the road. Since that game, the Grizzlies have won five in a row. They are now 9-5 for the season and have landed in the fourth spot in the western conference.

Both offense and defense aided the Grizzlies in their wire to wire victory against the Hornets. They had a season high 69 points in the first half and held the Hornets to 45 points. In the last three games the Grizzlies have held opponents to an average of 75 points.

 

Stats of the Game:

Field Goal Percentage: Grizzlies 47.6 percent (40-84), Hornets 41.1 percent (30-73).

Rebounds: Grizzlies 40 (6 OREB), Hornets 39 (8 OREB)

Points in the Paint: Grizzlies 38, Hornets 34

Fast Break Points: Grizzlies 6, Hornets 13

Three Point Field Goals: Grizzlies 46.2 percent (12/26), Hornets 29.0 percent (9/31)

Bench Points: Grizzlies 30, Hornets 52

Assists: Grizzlies 24, Hornets 20

Steals: Grizzlies 7 Hornets 6

 

Player Notes

Grizzlies had six players in double figures

Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with season high and team high 31 points (11-of-21), four reboounds, three steals and two assists. He was also 5-of-8 from three. It’s Conley’s third 30 point game of the season.

Zach Randolph with 14 points (7-of-14) and eight rebounds off the bench.

Marc Gasol had a near triple double with 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Gasol also had three blocks and a steal.

Tony Allen chipped in 12 points (5-of-9), four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

JaMychal Green was perfect from the field going 4-of-4. He ended the night with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Vince Carter added 10 points, five assists and five rebounds as a reserve.

 

Hornets had five players in double figures:

Frank Kaminsky led his team with 23 points (9-of-11) and three blocks off the bench.

Kemba Walker finished with 17 points (6-of-15), two assists and two rebounds.

Kevin Love had a double-double with 14 points (2-of-9) and 11 rebounds.

Marco Belinelli tallied 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.

Spencer Hawes earned his second double double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had his fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds along with five rebounds and four assists.

 

Highlights

 

 

What They Said

DAVID FIZDALE – GRIZZLIES HEAD COACH

On his team withstanding the Hornets run:

“It’s just who we are. Our group don’t cave. That’s one thing I like about them, we don’t cave in. If you’re going to beat us, you really have to earn it. We regrouped. Obviously James [Ennis] getting little banged up there kind of shrunk our rotation some, but guys stepped up. I thought TA [Tony Allen] really stepped up, played some great minutes. Andrew Harrison was big. I thought Z-Bo [Zach Randolph] came out in the second half and gave us a good second half. Obviously, what can I can say about Mike Conley? He’s getting closer and closer to the guy I want him to be, the killer that I want him to be. I’m really proud of his openness to it and just really trying to adapt to what I want him to be.”

 

On building the big lead in the first half:

“It started with our defense. Our guys are really taking pride in trying to build a championship defense. We all know the saying. They are really digging in and really taking it to heart that we have to get stops. We always say our defense will travel. It traveled tonight. That just led to being unselfish on the offensive end.” On what allowed the Hornets to make a run: “We got casual. We got cool. I just told them, I said ‘Guys, we’re from Memphis. There’s nothing cool about us. We’re gritty and don’t lose that edge.’ They understood what I was saying. I didn’t have to go too crazy this time. They knew exactly what I meant. They were policing each other. We got our bearings back.”

 

On these road wins building confidence in his team:

“It’s big. Obviously as a coach, you’re preaching certain things every day in practice. When you see it play out in victories it just builds more confidence in your group, amongst each other, amongst the coaching staff. You start building a real brotherhood, so this has been great for us.”

 

MIKE CONLEY – GUARD

On what had the team going early in the game:

“I thought, first off, our mentality. We’ve been on the road forever it feels like and we’ve brought the same mentality, basically since we played in Utah to tonight’s game and that’s to get off to the same kind of starts defensively and the defense was awesome tonight against a very good offensive team.”

 

On his confidence:

“I’m very confident. I take what the defense gives me, but also I have the confidence of the coaching staff, the confidence of my teammates. They depend on me to go out there and do that. Some nights I look to be more aggressive than others, but I have it in the bag.

 

On the team’s defense:

“It’s the mentality. Defense is a lot of hard work and you got to believe you can get to spots on the defensive end and we’re communicating and guys are trusting one another and when we’ve got that process going, we’re tough. If we can continue to do that, especially in Philadelphia, we’ll be fine.”

 

VINCE CARTER – GUARD/FORWARD

On stopping the Hornets’ run in the second half:

“We just had to step up our defensive intensity. When we’re on the road and the offense is not flowing, you can still defend. We just wanted to defend and make it tough for them. Yeah they may hit shots, but we just wanted to step up our intensity and our pressure, do our job on the wings and make it easier on the bigs. Yes they made their run, they’re supposed to. They’re a very good team, but we wanted to show and establish ourselves that we’re a good team as well and we were able to do that.”

 

On the mindset when the Hornets cut the lead to nine in the fourth quarter:

“Just keep going. Just keep going. They’re going to make runs. That’s the way the NBA is. There’s a lot of good basketball players, but it’s just like, ‘okay, now it’s time to go back and make our run.’ Make another run and push the game a little further out and we were able to do that.”

 

On ending Kemba Walker’s 11-game streak of scoring 20-plus points:

“It was a team effort. In this league one-on-one is tough to do, to guard by yourself. It’s a team effort and we pride ourselves on that. Yes we have great defenders and guys who are willing to go out there and lock down as an individual, but it is what it is. There are some talented offensive players, so as a team we have to do the job. We were able to really just lock in defensively as a unit and get the job done because it’s not going to be done one-one.”

 

Up Next

The Grizzlies travel to Philly to take on the 76ers on Wednesday, November 23rd.

Gametime: 6pm CST