Marc Gasol had an All-Star performance on Beale Street

Marc Gasol had an All-Star level performance on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors leading to a Grizz victory 101-99. Big Spain set a career high 42 points along with a career high five made three pointers. Gasol shot 56 percent from the field (14-of-25) and 50 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-10). He also had seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Gasol was hot from the start. He had that aggressiveness about him and first 16 points for the Grizzlies along with three, 3-pointers.

Coach Fizdale talked about Gasol’s career night, “I think we all saw it right from the beginning. He had a golden mind tonight that he was not going to go down watching. This is why I’ve been pushing him. I’ve really just pushed him to get out of his comfort zone and look to get aggressive about scoring the ball.”

Fizdale continued, “He is really embracing that role for us, because it’s not his nature. He is an unselfish guy by nature. My psychology is, ‘You’re being selfish by not being selfish.’ I was really happy with him, obviously, and happy for him for continuing to shatter previous career highs and things like that. Like I said, my fingers are crossed for him. I really want him to play in that [All-Star] game in February.”

Gasol ended the first quarter with 19 points and had 23 points the first half which tied most in any half by a Grizzlies’ player this season. The previous record was held by Troy Daniels on December 3, 2016 vs LA Lakers.

“I think it has been like the last three games or four games where he really comes out. I’m just hoping that’s what he is going to become. I don’t want it to be anything that has to spark it necessarily, but this is who you have to deal with every single night,” Fizdale said about Gasol’s aggressiveness. “That’s a habit being built for him. I know people say, ‘Well why doesn’t he do it every night?’ It’s not easy. It’s hard being a guy who puts in that much effort to attack when it’s not in their nature. I’m just hoping that eventually this is just conditioning him to become a guy who just goes at you, and I really thought he did that tonight.”

Mike Conley was happy for Gasol’s and was amazed by his performance: “It’s great. It’s so fun to watch and to be a part of. Tonight was something special and it got to the point where everyone was just trying to get him the ball no matter where we were on the court. That’s what is fun, to be a part of a team that cares like that.  We know it’s not about one individual guy, but if a guy’s got it going and having a great night like tonight – I mean you saw how excited we all were for him. It was a great night to be his teammate.”

Tony Allen on Marc Gasol and the team:

“The ball went in and then probably the rim got a little bigger. Then I just kept shooting and it kept going in,” Gasol said after the game. “I think I made plays when I was supposed to. I was aggressive. When I caught it and I had a shot, I drove it and tried to make plays for someone else.  I even brought it up a couple of times. So, I guess, that‘s what we need and that’s what I’m going to try to do every game.”

Gasol reiterated, “Obviously it’s going to require a different mindset but I think the last few games I’ve been trying to do that a little bit more. I’m going to keep doing it.”

Gasol has scored 154 points in his last five games, the best scoring performance of his career.

 

Along with Gasol, the rest of the Core 4 contributed combined for 84 of the Grizzlies 101 points. Tony Allen recorded his fifth double double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Conley chipped  in 11 points, five assists and three rebounds. Zach Randolph added 16 points (7-of-10) and eight rebounds. It was the first time this season that Randolph and Gasol started together.

 

Happy 40th Birthday, Mr. Vince Carter!!! He is the oldest active player in the NBA.

 

Fizdale said took credit for predicting the 360 lay-up:

“I’m telling you guys, I know you’re not going to believe me but you can ask J.B. Bickerstaff if I’m lying. I predicted this. Tony Allen tried a 360 in our first game against Toronto and I said, ‘Wait a minute. If anyone is going to be doing 360s on this team, it’s going to be Vince.’ I said that today, I promise you, and I looked at J.B. Bickerstaff and we both just started laughing. I thought that’s just got to be a good sign for this one, my 40 year-old is out here 360ing. It’s just awesome to watch. He’s out here doing what he’s doing and I think he’s got a lot of other 40-year-old fans out there that he’s doing it for. A lot of guys out there which they had those knees that can get him up in the air and do what Vince is doing. Like I said, he’s invaluable to us. He played 30 minutes tonight and he’s 40 years old. It’s awesome to see it and it’s awesome to be a part of his journey, the journey of a future Hall of Famer and I’m just enjoying it.”

The Raptors continue to struggle

Kyle Lowry tried his best to win it for the Raptors. He ended the game with 29 points, eight assists and four rebounds. The Raptors are on a five game losing streak.

Lowry had harsh words after the game, “Right now, as I said, words mean nothing right now. It’s our fifth straight loss. We’re not playing good basketball. We’re playing hard but we are not playing good basketball. We are not shooting well. We’ve just got to figure it out. Words literally mean nothing right now, actions are louder than words.”

Norman Powell tied his season high with 21 points and five rebounds. DeMarre Carroll added 11 points while Corey Joseph chipped in 15 points as a reserve.

Up Next

Memphis vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at the Moda Center. Tip-Off at 9pm CST.