Tied at 2: Gasol lifts Grizzlies past Spurs in OT
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) talks to teammates including guard Mike Conley (11) during overtime of Game 4 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol hit a 12-foot floater with 0.7 seconds left in overtime, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the San Antonio Spurs 110-108 Saturday night to even up their Western Conference first-round series at 2-2.
The Grizzlies won despite blowing a 10-point lead with 7:38 left in regulation and 23 turnovers that San Antonio turned into 31 points.
Article continues after this advertisementMike Conley set a franchise postseason record with 35 points, and Gasol finished with 16 points after shooting 5 of 12 for the game. He also had 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies overcame another postseason personal best from Kawhi Leonard, who had 43 points. He rallied the Spurs by scoring the last 16 points of regulation, but missed a 21-footer short of the rim with James Ennis defending him just before the buzzer. Leonard also tied it at 108 with 17 seconds left with a 3 from the left corner.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Article continues after this advertisementConley also had eight assists and nine rebounds. Zach Randolph added 12 points and 11 rebounds, but was 4 of 12 from the field.
Tony Parker scored 22 points after being shut out in Game 3, and LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
The Spurs made all 17 of their free throws, a tremendous improvement from Game 3 when they were 16 of 28 from the line. Unlike Game 2, Memphis also got to the line more than San Antonio and was 22 of 24.
Leonard finished with 24 points combined in the fourth quarter and overtime in a thrilling game that also featured six lead changes and seven ties in the fourth quarter and overtime.
In overtime, the Spurs led 102-100 when Parker intercepted a pass by Conley and pushed the ball up-court. But rookie Andrew Harrison raced down to block Mills’ shot, and Gasol was fouled when he scored inside to tie it up. His free throw with 1:32 left put the Grizzlies up 103-102, then Conley hit a floater with 47.3 seconds left.
With Ennis defending Leonard, the MVP candidate committed a turnover when he lost the ball out of bounds with 43.7 seconds left. But Leonard’s final 3 tied it up one last time before Gasol’s big bucket.
