Grizzlies, Randolph outlast Suns in double OT
Zach Randolph’s double-double powers Grizzlies past Suns in 2OT
Gasol, Grizzlies Finish Off Suns In 2OT
VIDEO PLAYLIST
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol scored the first seven points in the second overtime, Zach Randolph had 27 points and 17 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies outlasted the Phoenix Suns 122-110 on Sunday night.
Gasol finished with 12 points to help Memphis snap a two-game losing streak. Mike Conley added 25 points and eight assists and Courtney Lee had 18 points.
Isaiah Thomas led Phoenix with 20 points, but had a costly turnover trying to get the ball into the front court with the Suns leading late in the first overtime.
Markieff Morris added 17 points, Alex Len had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and P.J. Tucker, Eric Bledsoe and Marcus Morris had 11 points apiece. Bledsoe had a chance to win it in the first overtime, but his off-balance shot in the lane banged off the front of the rim at the buzzer.
Phoenix has lost two straight.
The Suns found themselves in foul trouble in the second overtime. Goran Dragic fouled out in the first overtime on Thomas’ turnover. On the first play on the second overtime, Len fouled out on Gasol’s field goal. Then Markieff Morris was called for his sixth foul with just over 2 minutes left.
The Grizzlies were without forward Tayshaun Prince and swingman Quincy Pondexter, awaiting the completion of a three-team trade. On Saturday night, a person familiar with the deal said the Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans have agreed on a five-player trade that would send forward Jeff Green from Boston to Memphis. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been announced and formal approval by the NBA isn’t expected until Monday.
Prince would go from Memphis to Boston and Pondexter from Memphis to New Orleans.
The Suns trailed by 16 in the second half and 14 early in the fourth quarter.
Marcus Morris made three straight baskets to get the deficit to single digits. That started a run of 11 straight points for Phoenix, eventually pulling the Suns to 82-79 with about 7 minutes left.
Tucker’s layup tied it 101 with 5.9 left in regulation. The Grizzlies begged for basket interference, saying Bledsoe pulled the net as the ball was bouncing on the rim.
Bledsoe’s 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds left in the first overtime gave the Suns a 108-106 lead. The Suns stopped the Grizzlies on the next possession, but Thomas gave away the ball and Lee — fouled by Dragic — made two free throws with 16.2 left. Bledsoe then missed at the buzzer, forcing the second extra period.
The Grizzlies committed 24 turnovers and the Suns had 21.
TIP-INS:
Suns: Phoenix has lost six straight in the series. … Brandan Wright, obtained from the Celtics on Friday, made his first appearance for the Suns, entering the game in the first quarter. He finished with seven points, hitting three of four shots. … The Suns are 0-4 in overtime this season.
Grizzlies: Randolph made six of his first seven shots and had 18 points in the first half. He had his second straight double-double after missing nine games because of soreness in his right knee. … Memphis’ last two opponents — Atlanta and New Orleans — were a combined 23 of 45 from 3-point range. The Suns were 8 of 35.
UP NEXT:
Suns: Host Cleveland on Tuesday night.
Grizzlies: Visit Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
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