Gasol, Randolph help Grizzlies even series
MEMPHIS -- Forward Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies was named the NBA's best defensive player earlier this week.
On Saturday, Gasol showed that his offense can't exactly be ignored either.
Gasol scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half as the Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Clippers 104-83 at FedExForum.
Zach Randolph, the other half of the Grizzlies' one-two inside punch, scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half as the Grizzlies tied the Western Conference series at 2-2. The series returns to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Tuesday. Game 6 will be in Memphis on Friday.
The Clippers were led by Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, who each scored 19 points.
Gasol and Randolph outscored (48-40) and outrebounded (22-18) the Clippers' starting lineup. Gasol hit 9-of-14 field goals and collected 13 rebounds, while Randolph was 11-for-17 with nine rebounds.
"(Griz coach Lionel Hollins) told me (at halftime) to try and score more," Gasol said. "I felt I tried in the first half, but just didn't get it. We had Zach going in the first half, so we played through him. It doesn't matter who scores. At the end of the day, all that matters is that we win."
That is what the Grizzlies did in Memphis after dropping the first two games in Los Angeles. The biggest reasons for the turnaround are Gasol and Randolph.
In the two losses, they averaged 29.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. In the two wins, they averaged 45.5 points and 20.5 rebounds.
"My teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball in the right spots," Randolph said.
"Their centers are pretty amazing," Paul said. "Z-Bo inside and the big fella Marc, that's another guard the way he passes and shoots the ball. You have to run them; you can't get them tired. You can't leave them in rocking chairs out there."
The Clippers trailed by 12 in the first half, but their usually strong bench reeled the Grizzlies back in. Los Angeles was feeling pretty good at halftime, leading 47-46.
After the Randolph tore up the Clippers inside, the Clippers' bench outscored the Griz reserves 25-6 in the half.
That's when Hollins realized he would have to ride his starters longer than usual in the second half.
"We came out in the third quarter, regained our composure and poise, and started attacking them with Marc in the post," Hollins said.
Gasol hit 5-of-7 shots and scored 14 of the Grizzlies' 25 points in the third quarter. He hit a 17-footer to open the Griz scoring and swished a 13-footer just before the quarter-ending buzzer.
All were from 10 feet or farther, including a 23-footer that he had to catch off an inbounds pass from Tayshaun Prince. Gasol's midrange jumpers completely neutered long and athletic DeAndre Jordan, one of the NBA's best shot blockers. That opened the lane for the Griz to attack the basket in their 33-point fourth quarter.
"He and Zach are helluva scorers," Jordan said. "When you help in pick-and-roll, it's very tough to get back and read the pass.
"I thought we contested his shot. We're on the ball, but he's a big guy and he fades back when he takes his shot. We're making him take fadeaways and he's making them. Those are the shots we have to live with."
It was more than just Gasol's offense. For the second straight game after two subpar rebounding performances in the losses in Los Angeles, the Grizzlies returned to dominating rebounding.
They steamrolled the Clips 45-28 on the boards, with a 22-2 edge in second-chance points. It was a repeat performance from Game 3, when the Grizzlies had a 45-33 advantage with 22-4 in second-chance points.
NOTES: Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has 23 assists and two turnovers in his last two games. ... Two Clippers' starters, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, didn't score. ... Griz forward Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds after averaging 3.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the first three games. ... Veteran guard Keyon Dooling (sprained neck muscle) didn't play for the Grizzlies. Dooling has played aggressively and unafraid in the series so far, averaging 4.3 points while hitting 3-of-6 threes.
