MEMPHIS - The Memphis Grizzlies had every reason to ease up in the regular-season finale after pushing hard the past three months to reach the NBA postseason.
Instead, they kept grinding and grabbed the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
Mike Conley hit two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in overtime, and the Memphis Grizzlies moved up from the eighth seed by edging the Dallas Mavericks 106-105 on Wednesday night.
“We’ve been holding on very tight for a long time,” Memphis Coach Dave Joerger said. “Getting 50 wins is something you want on your resume as a player, and people remember those. Those are special seasons. It’s a standard, a golden standard I think.”
Memphis became the seventh team in the West with 50 victories this season with the victory. The Grizzlies, who set a franchise record with a 14th consecutive home victory in a single season, will open the postseason Saturday night at Oklahoma City. They beat the Thunder in the semifinals last year with Russell Westbrook out.
“Playing Grizzlies basketball going into the postseason was key, and we wanted to try to keep that momentum going,” Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said.
Monta Ellis missed a 17-footer before Conley drew the foul driving to the basket. Dallas had one last shot, but Ellis missed from the top of the key.
“It felt good, but it didn’t go down,” Ellis said. “I think we did a great job. We competed. It went down to the wire, and they won.”
Conley was face guarding his player when he noticed Ellis got his shot off before the buzzer.
“I was like, ‘How’d he get that open?’ ” Conley said. “When I saw it hit the rim, I was like ‘Thank you, God.’ That would have been a tough one to lose.”
Avoiding No. 1 seed San Antonio in the first round was the only thing on the line, and Memphis has lost 14 of its past 16 against the Spurs with the Mavericks losing nine consecutive.
Dallas Coach Rick Carlisle said the Mavericks will be fine with starting in San Antonio on Sunday giving Dirk Nowitzki and Ellis time to rest. Nowitzki banged his right knee late in the first half and played the second half with a sleeve protecting his leg.
“Tonight is a good indication of the fight we have in us, and we’re going to take that fight to San Antonio,” Carlisle said.
Nowitzki called this game a tough loss, but he also is positive about facing the Spurs.
“Eventually we will win one,” Nowitzki said. “Why would it not be Game 1 or Game 2? We are going to go out there and let it rip in Game 1.”
Playoffs glance All times Central
SATURDAY’S GAMES Brooklyn at Toronto, 11:30 a.m.
Golden State at LA Clippers, 2:30 p.m. Atlanta at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES Dallas at San Antonio, noon Charlotte at Miami, 2:30 p.m.
Washington at Chicago, 5 p.m.
Portland at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
MONDAY’S GAMES Memphis at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
Golden State at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
TUESDAY’S GAMES Atlanta at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Brooklyn at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Washington at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Charlotte at Miami, 6 p.m.
Dallas at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Portland at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S SUMMARIES PACERS 101, MAGIC 86 INDIANA (101) Butler 8-13 1-4 19, Scola 4-10 2-2 10, Hibbert 1-7 2-2 4, G.Hill 2-5 0-0 5, Turner 5-6 3-3 14, S.Hill 2-6 0-0 5, Copeland 7-16 0-0 19, Sloan 6-13 0-0 13, Allen 6-12 0-0 12. Totals 41-88 8-11 101.
ORLANDO (86) Harkless 5-9 4-7 14, O’Quinn 1-6 4-6 6, Dedmon 4-10 0-0 8, Oladipo 2-8 0-0 4, Afflalo 2-2 2-2 7, Lamb 4-12 0-0 11, Nicholson 4-8 2-2 10, Maxiell 0-2 2-4 2, Moore 5-12 3-3 13, Price 2-4 0-0 5, Harris 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 32-79 17-24 86.
Indiana ...................25 21 29 26 - 101 Orlando ...................20 20 22 24 - 86 3-Point Goals-Indiana 11-23 (Copeland 5-11, Butler 2-4, Turner 1-1, S.Hill 1-2, G.Hill 1-2, Sloan 1-3), Orlando 5-15 (Lamb 3-7, Afflalo 1-1, Price 1-2, Oladipo 0-1, Harkless 0-2, Moore 0-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds- Indiana 57 (Allen 11), Orlando 47 (Dedmon 13). Assists-Indiana 26 (Turner 6), Orlando 14 (Price 4). Total Fouls-Indiana 17, Orlando 16. Technicals-Indiana defensive three second. Attendance-18,846 (18,500).
BOBCATS 91, BULLS 86 CHICAGO (86) Dunleavy 4-12 2-4 12, Boozer 7-12 0-0 14, Noah 7-16 0-0 14, Hinrich 4-8 0-0 11, Butler 3-8 6-8 12, Augustin 6-16 2-3 17, Gibson 2-10 0-0 4, Mohammed 1-3 0-0 2, Snell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-86 10-15 86.
CHARLOTTE (91) Kidd-Gilchrist 3-4 2-2 8, McRoberts 3-8 0-0 7, Jefferson 4-14 2-4 10, Walker 6-16 10-11 22, Henderson 5-13 1-3 11, Zeller 4-6 0-0 8, Neal 2-8 0-0 5, Ridnour 1-3 0-0 3, Douglas-Roberts 4-10 3-4 13, Biyombo 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 34-85 18-26 91.
Chicago ............. 21 18 21 20 6 - 86 Charlotte ............ 16 27 16 21 11 - 91 3-Point Goals-Chicago 8-22 (Hinrich 3-5, Augustin 3-9, Dunleavy 2-6, Snell 0-1, Butler 0-1), Charlotte 5-21 (Douglas-Roberts 2-3, Ridnour 1-2, Neal 1-3, McRoberts 1-6, Jefferson 0-1, Walker 0-6). Fouled Out-Hinrich. Rebounds-Chicago 53 (Noah 13), Charlotte 63 (Jefferson 18). Assists-Chicago 21 (Hinrich, Noah 6), Charlotte 23 (Walker 8). Total Fouls-Chicago 22, Charlotte 14. Attendance-17,627 (19,077).
JAZZ 136, T-WOLVES 130, 2OT UTAH (136) Hayward 8-23 7-8 23, Favors 8-12 5-6 21, Evans 8-13 2-2 18, Burke 10-21 10-10 32, Burks 5-13 0-0 11, Thomas 4-6 0-0 9, Jefferson 5-12 0-2 11, Garrett 1-2 0-0 3, Gobert 4-5 0-1 8, Clark 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 53-108 24-29 136.
MINNESOTA (130) Brewer 4-8 3-5 11, Love 4-15 10-12 19, Dieng 1-8 2-4 4, Rubio 4-13 5-5 14, Martin 12-24 9-10 36, Turiaf 3-5 6-8 12, Mbah a Moute 0-1 0-0 0, Shved 3-6 4-6 11, Cunningham 6-12 1-2 13, Hummel 3-5 2-2 10. Totals 40-97 42-54 130.
Utah ..............31 20 29 27 12 17 - 136 Minnesota ......17 31 22 37 12 11 - 130 3-Point Goals-Utah 6-24 (Burke 2-4, Garrett 1-2, Thomas 1-2, Burks 1-4, Jefferson 1-7, Hayward 0-5), Minnesota 8-25 (Martin 3-5, Hummel 2-2, Shved 1-3, Rubio 1-4, Love 1-9, Brewer 0-2). Fouled Out-Burks, Evans, Martin. Rebounds-Utah 66 (Favors 12), Minnesota 63 (Love 10). Assists-Utah 30 (Burke, Hayward 9), Minnesota 24 (Love 9). Total Fouls-Utah 34, Minnesota 24. Attendance-14,155 (19,356).
THUNDER 112, PISTONS 111 DETROIT (111) Singler 6-9 6-6 20, Monroe 9-19 4-9 22, Drummond 9-16 4-8 22, Jennings 2-9 2-3 6, Caldwell-Pope 11-19 3-5 30, Datome 1-3 0-0 2, Siva 2-4 0-0 4, Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0, Jerebko 2-3 0-0 5. Totals 42-83 19-31 111.
OKLAHOMA CITY (112) Durant 14-30 13-15 42, Ibaka 5-9 0-1 10, Perkins 1-3 3-4 5, Westbrook 5-15 12-15 22, Sefolosha 3-7 1-2 7, Collison 2-3 0-0 4, Adams 0-1 1-2 1, Butler 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson 6-11 0-0 15, Fisher 2-6 1-2 6. Totals 38-86 31-41 112.
Detroit ....................30 25 32 24 - 111 Oklahoma City ..........28 26 25 33 - 112 3-Point Goals-Detroit 8-19 (Caldwell-Pope 5-7, Singler 2-4, Jerebko 1-1, Datome 0-1, Siva 0-1, Jennings 0-5), Oklahoma City 5-23 (Jackson 3-7, Fisher 1-4, Durant 1-5, Westbrook 0-3, Sefolosha 0-4). Fouled Out-Drummond. Rebounds-Detroit 50 (Drummond 13), Oklahoma City 61 (Ibaka 15). Assists-Detroit 20 (Monroe 9), Oklahoma City 23 (Westbrook 8). Total Fouls-Detroit 28, Oklahoma City 22. Technicals- Perkins. Attendance-18,203 (18,203).
HAWKS 111, BUCKS 103 ATLANTA (111) Carroll 6-9 0-0 13, Scott 8-13 0-0 17, Antic 2-8 3-3 8, Teague 4-8 1-2 11, Korver 3-4 1-2 7, Brand 1-2 0-0 2, Mack 4-7 2-2 11, Williams 1-6 7-7 9, Martin 5-7 2-5 14, Muscala 6-8 3-3 15, Schroder 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 41-76 21-26 111.
MILWAUKEE (103) Middleton 6-17 2-2 16, Adrien 3-5 2-4 8, Pachulia 2-5 3-4 7, Knight 12-18 4-4 31, Sessions 2-6 2-2 6, Henson 8-13 3-5 19, Antetokounmpo 4-6 0-0 10, Wright 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 40-77 16-21 103.
Atlanta ....................29 29 24 29 - 111 Milwaukee ...............39 24 20 20 - 103 3-Point Goals-Atlanta 8-24 (Martin 2-3, Teague 2-5, Carroll 1-2, Scott 1-3, Mack 1-3, Antic 1-4, Schroder 0-1, Williams 0-3), Milwaukee 7-18 (Knight 3-6, Antetokounmpo 2-3, Middleton 2-6, Sessions 0-3). Rebounds-Atlanta 34 (Martin 6), Milwaukee 48 (Middleton, Knight, Adrien 7). Assists-Atlanta 29 (Scott, Carroll, Korver 4), Milwaukee 25 (Sessions 6). Total Fouls-Atlanta 18, Milwaukee 21. Attendance-13,111 (18,717).
GRIZZLIES 106, MAVERICKS 105 DALLAS (105) Marion 4-8 0-0 9, Nowitzki 12-22 3-3 30, Dalembert 1-2 0-0 2, Calderon 4-8 0-0 9, Ellis 8-21 0-0 18, Blair 2-5 4-4 8, Carter 4-11 0-2 9, Harris 4-8 2-2 10, Wright 5-5 0-0 10, Crowder 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 44-92 9-11 105. MEMPHIS (106) Prince 2-7 0-0 4, Randolph 11-22 5-6 27, Gasol 9-13 1-4 19, Conley 8-16 5-7 22, Lee 3-10 3-3 11, Calathes 1-2 0-0 3, Allen 6-11 1-5 13, Davis 2-2 0-0 4, Miller 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 43-88 15-25 106.
Dallas ............... 24 29 20 20 12 -1 05 Memphis............ 29 22 24 18 13 -1 06 3-Point Goals-Dallas 8-30 (Nowitzki 3-9, Ellis 2-4, Marion 1-3, Carter 1-4, Calderon 1-5, Crowder 0-2, Harris 0-3), Memphis 5-20 (Lee 2-8, Calathes 1-1, Miller 1-4, Conley 1-5, Allen 0-1, Gasol 0-1). Rebounds-Dallas 48 (Blair 7), Memphis 57 (Randolph 14). Assists- Dallas 22 (Harris 10), Memphis 25 (Gasol 9). Total Fouls-Dallas 23, Memphis 16. Technicals-Dallas Coach Carlisle. Attendance-17,323 (18,119).
LAKERS 113, SPURS 100 LA LAKERS (113) Johnson 5-17 0-0 11, Kelly 6-11 0-0 12, Hill 7-13 4-6 18, Marshall 5-7 1-2 15, Meeks 5-6 2-2 14, Young 6-12 2-3 16, Sacre 4-10 2-2 10, Farmar 4-11 0-0 10, Brooks 3-4 1-2 7. Totals 45-91 12-17 113.
SAN ANTONIO (100) Leonard 6-10 0-0 14, Baynes 1-3 0-0 2, Splitter 6-13 0-0 12, Parker 5-10 2-2 12, Green 3-13 0-0 8, Ginobili 4-9 0-0 10, Diaw 0-4 0-0 0, Ayres 1-4 0-0 2, Mills 4-9 0-0 9, Joseph 5-11 2-2 12, Bonner 2-5 0-0 6, Daye 4-6 4-6 13, James 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 41-99 8-10 100.
LA Lakers ................33 18 35 27 - 113 San Antonio .............23 28 24 25 - 100 3-Point Goals-LA Lakers 11-27 (Marshall 4-4, Meeks 2-2, Young 2-5, Farmar 2-5, Johnson 1-7, Brooks 0-1, Kelly 0-3), San Antonio 10-30 (Bonner 2-3, Ginobili 2-4, Leonard 2-5, Green 2-10, Daye 1-2, Mills 1-3, Joseph 0-1, Parker 0-1, Splitter 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-LA Lakers 56 (Hill 14), San Antonio 55 (Splitter, Bonner 8). Assists-LA Lakers 29 (Marshall 11), San Antonio 25 (Ginobili 5). Total Fouls-LA Lakers 17, San Antonio 19. Attendance-18,581 (18,797).
PELICANS 105, ROCKETS 100 HOUSTON (100) Casspi 4-10 0-0 9, Jones 7-11 3-6 17, Howard 1-5 5-7 7, Beverley 4-6 4-5 14, Daniels 8-16 0-0 22, Hamilton 5-10 0-0 14, Canaan 1-6 0-2 2, Powell 2-6 0-0 4, Motiejunas 3-9 4-4 11, Covington 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 35-81 16-24 100.
NEW ORLEANS (105) Miller 4-7 0-0 9, Withey 3-5 0-0 6, Ajinca 5-7 1-2 11, Rivers 6-11 4-5 18, Evans 11-20 2-4 25, Ely 2-3 0-0 4, Morrow 6-14 2-3 15, Roberts 0-0 3-4 3, Babbitt 3-10 1-2 8, Aminu 3-5 0-0 6. Totals 43-82 13-20 105.
Houston ..................30 20 28 22 - 100 New Orleans ............28 25 27 25 - 105 3-Point Goals-Houston 14-30 (Daniels 6-11, Hamilton 4-7, Beverley 2-3, Motiejunas 1-1, Casspi 1-2, Howard 0-1, Covington 0-2, Canaan 0-3), New Orleans 6-12 (Rivers 2-3, Evans 1-1, Miller 1-1, Babbitt 1-3, Morrow 1-4). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Houston 49 (Motiejunas 10), New Orleans 51 (Babbitt 8). Assists-Houston 23 (Daniels 5), New Orleans 24 (Evans 10). Total Fouls-Houston 16, New Orleans 18. Technicals-New Orleans defensive three second. Attendance-17,421 (17,188).
WIZARDS 118, CELTICS 102 WASHINGTON (118) Ariza 6-12 1-1 13, Booker 9-13 2-3 20, Gortat 6-11 3-5 15, Wall 7-15 0-0 15, Beal 10-14 4-4 27, Webster 2-6 0-0 5, Nene 5-6 2-4 12, Harrington 2-5 0-0 5, Miller 2-2 0-0 4, Porter Jr. 0-1 0-0 0, Temple 0-1 0-0 0, Seraphin 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 50-88 12-17 118.
BOSTON (102) Green 6-15 6-7 20, Bass 7-9 2-3 16, Olynyk 10-16 4-5 24, Pressey 3-12 3-4 9, Bradley 7-18 1-1 18, Babb 0-4 0-0 0, Johnson 4-7 0-1 10, Anthony 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 39-84 17-23 102.
Washington ..............38 30 23 27 - 118 Boston ....................24 32 19 27 - 102 3-Point Goals-Washington 6-18 (Beal 3-5, Harrington 1-2, Webster 1-3, Wall 1-3, Ariza 0-5), Boston 7-30 (Bradley 3-7, Johnson 2-5, Green 2-7, Bass 0-1, Olynyk 0-2, Babb 0-4, Pressey 0-4). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Washington 49 (Gortat 10), Boston 45 (Bass, Olynyk 7). Assists-Washington 26 (Wall 9), Boston 24 (Pressey 10). Total Fouls-Washington 20, Boston 16. Attendance-18,624 (18,624).
CAVALIERS 114, NETS 85 BROOKLYN (85) Thornton 6-19 4-5 20, Blatche 8-18 3-3 20, Collins 3-8 2-2 8, Teague 2-9 2-2 7, Gutierrez 5-11 1-2 13, Kirilenko 2-7 5-7 9, Plumlee 4-7 0-2 8. Totals 30-79 17-23 85.
CLEVELAND (114) Gee 5-9 2-2 12, Thompson 5-9 1-1 11, Hawes 4-7 0-0 10, Irving 6-12 3-3 15, Waiters 7-12 3-4 19, Zeller 9-11 4-5 22, Jack 2-10 0-0 5, Dellavedova 1-5 0-0 3, Bennett 3-6 1-2 7, Felix 4-6 0-0 10. Totals 46-87 14-17 114.
Brooklyn ..................21 28 15 21 - 85 Cleveland ................33 18 30 33 - 114 3-Point Goals-Brooklyn 8-25 (Thornton 4-12, Gutierrez 2-3, Teague 1-3, Blatche 1-4, Plumlee 0-1, Collins 0-2), Cleveland 8-20 (Felix 2-3, Hawes 2-4, Waiters 2-5, Jack 1-3, Dellavedova 1-3, Irving 0-2). Fouled Out-Gutierrez. Rebounds-Brooklyn 43 (Blatche 12), Cleveland 56 (Zeller 11). Assists-Brooklyn 21 (Plumlee 6), Cleveland 32 (Jack 9). Total Fouls-Brooklyn 16, Cleveland 18. Technicals-Brooklyn defensive three second, Cleveland defensive three second. Attendance-19,842 (20,562).
76ERS 100, HEAT 87 PHILADELPHIA (100) Thomas 1-2 0-0 3, Young 9-17 2-2 20, Sims 4-7 2-2 10, Carter-Williams 3-10 3-4 12, Anderson 3-5 2-2 10, Williams 4-7 1-2 9, Varnado 3-5 2-2 8, Thompson 1-4 0-0 3, Wroten 2-6 0-0 4, Ware 4-5 0-0 10, Davies 4-6 2-2 11. Totals 38-74 14-16 100.
MIAMI (87) Jones 3-8 0-0 9, Battier 3-6 0-0 9, Haslem 3-4 1-2 7, Douglas 4-14 4-4 13, Wade 6-14 4-6 16, Allen 4-9 2-4 11, Oden 0-2 2-2 2, Beasley 3-4 2-2 8, Cole 2-6 0-0 5, Hamilton 2-6 2-2 7. Totals 30-73 17-22 87.
Philadelphia .............29 26 29 16 - 100 Miami ....................27 24 15 21 - 87 3-Point Goals-Philadelphia 10-23 (Carter-Williams 3-5, Anderson 2-2, Ware 2-3, Davies 1-2, Thomas 1-2, Thompson 1-3, Williams 0-1, Wroten 0-2, Young 0-3), Miami 10-30 (Battier 3-4, Jones 3-8, Hamilton 1-2, Cole 1-2, Allen 1-5, Douglas 1-6, Beasley 0-1, Wade 0-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Philadelphia 43 (Young 9), Miami 43 (Haslem 10). Assists-Philadelphia 24 (Wroten 6), Miami 16 (Wade, Douglas 4). Total Fouls-Philadelphia 22, Miami 16. Attendance-20,350 (19,600).
KNICKS 95, RAPTORS 92 TORONTO (92) Ross 2-5 0-0 4, Johnson 1-3 0-2 2, Valanciunas 4-6 0-0 8, Lowry 8-15 3-5 22, DeRozan 2-5 5-6 9, Hansbrough 4-8 3-5 11, Vasquez 5-9 0-0 13, Patterson 3-7 0-0 7, Buycks 1-7 0-0 2, De Colo 5-12 0-0 12, Hayes 0-0 0-0 0, Novak 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 36-80 11-18 92.
NEW YORK (95) Smith 13-19 2-4 30, Stoudemire 3-7 2-2 8, Aldrich 5-8 3-4 13, Prigioni 1-1 0-0 2, Shumpert 1-10 0-2 3, Hardaway Jr. 6-15 3-4 18, Tyler 2-6 2-2 6, Murry 6-12 1-1 15, Brown 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 37-81 13-19 95.
Toronto ...................28 29 17 18 - 92 New York .................21 23 30 21 - 95 3-Point Goals-Toronto 9-29 (Vasquez 3-6, Lowry 3-8, De Colo 2-4, Patterson 1-4, Johnson 0-1, Ross 0-2, Buycks 0-2, Novak 0-2), New York 8-17 (Hardaway Jr. 3-5, Murry 2-2, Smith 2-5, Shumpert 1-5). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Toronto 59 (Hansbrough 9), New York 42 (Aldrich 16). Assists-Toronto 20 (Lowry, Vasquez 5), New York 13 (Prigioni 3). Total Fouls- Toronto 20, New York 23. Technicals-Patterson, Vasquez. Attendance-19,812 (19,763).
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Indiana 101, Orlando 86 Charlotte 91, Chicago 86, OT Utah 136, Minnesota 130, 2OT Oklahoma City 112, Detroit 111 Atlanta 111, Milwaukee 103 Memphis 106, Dallas 105, OTLA Lakers 113, San Antonio 100 New Orleans 105, Houston 100 Washington 118, Boston 102 Cleveland 114, Brooklyn 85 Philadelphia 100, Miami 87 New York 95, Toronto 92 LA Clippers at Portland, (n) Phoenix at Sacramento, (n) Golden State at Denver, (n) End of regular season
Sports, Pages 22 on 04/17/2014