Requiem: Grizzlies Get Revenge, Blowout Nuggets 99-69
Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph gets another double-double against the Nuggets.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis, TN – Memphis Grizzlies’ forward Zach Randolph is currently in the zone. No, he’s not extremely hot from outside the arc like Atlanta Hawks’ guard Kyle Korver. No, he’s not had a 37-point quarter like Golden State’s Klay Thompson. Z-Bo’s game is predicated around the rim, and below the rim. So for Randolph to be in the zone, he must be dominating the paint and everything around him. And on Thursday night in front of a national televised audience on TNT, Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies manhandled the Denver Nuggets, 99-69.
Randolph recorded his 11th straight double-double, scoring 15 points, 17 rebounds and dished out two assists as the Grizzlies won their fifth in a row as they push their record to 34-12, and try to keep pace with the Warriors who are an NBA-best 36-7 in the Western Conference. His frontcourt teammate and All-Star center Marc Gasol, whom wasn’t really needed to due the blowout, scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 24 minutes as Memphis dominated the Nuggets (19-28) from opening whistle.
“We were getting inside and putting the ball in the paint, which helps us set our defense against a team that plays fast and tries to get back and try to limit easy baskets,” said Dave Joerger, Grizzlies’ head coach. “And they certainly had their fair share in the first half. But I think the second half we did a lot better job, there wasn’t any end-to-end dribbles for dunks and coast-to-coast stuff.”
Memphis’ stout defense was on display. Holding Denver to just 2-for-26 shooting (7.7 percent) from three-point range, and limiting the Nuggets to a meager 33.3 percent shooting for the game. And the first quarter – only 11 points scored for Denver. All of this was done without starting point guard and floor general Mike Conley, who sat out his second straight game due to a sore left wrist. Backup guard Beno Udrih got his second straight start for Conley and chipped in nicely with 11 points and three assists in 22 minutes.
“Defensively, I thought we have taken another notch, and that is our strength,” said Gasol. “Defense is what’s going to separate us from the other teams.”
All five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, while limiting the Nuggets to having just two starters to score in the double digits. Memphis will be off Friday as they prepare for Saturday’s contest against another tough Western Conference opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm (CT).
