Grizzlies crush Thunder for first win in bubble, strengthen hold on eighth place in West
It had been five months since the Memphis Grizzlies last won a game. For the first time since January, they were in danger of losing their hold on the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Things looked bleak again Friday as the Oklahoma City Thunder jumped out to an 18-point first-quarter lead. But somehow the Grizzlies found a gear they've lacked so far in Florida.
The Grizzlies' 121-92 win not only ended a five-game losing streak, it was their first win since March 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. They increased their lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for eighth place to one game with three left to play in Orlando.
Their magic number for clinching the No. 8 seed is three. And for good measure, they matched last season's win total of 33.
Six Grizzlies scored in double figures as they went from shooting too many 3-pointers to attacking the basket. They made their first 15 free throws and finished 18-of-20 for the game.
More surprisingly, coach Taylor Jenkins shook up his starting lineup. Anthony Tolliver, who signed 10-day contract in March, got his first start for Memphis, and the 35-year-old provided an unlikely spark in the second quarter.
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Tolliver and Jonas Valanciunas led an 11-2 run to start the second quarter with Ja Morant on the bench. Tolliver's eight points all came in the period, and he added four rebounds and was as animated as any of his younger teammates.
Dillon Brooks hit a 3-pointer to make it 41-40, and the Grizzlies never relinquished the lead. Brooks had 22 points and Valanciunas added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Gorgui Dieng, in his second game in Florida, had 12 points off the bench.
Morant, whose celebrated his daughter Kaari's first birthday Friday, added 19 points and nine assists. Morant had more free throw attempts (seven) than 3-point attempts and was perfect from the line.
After a nightmare start in Florida, it was the wake-up call the Grizzlies needed to save their playoff hopes for just a little longer.