The Memphis Grizzlies and the Boston Celtics both continued trends on Sunday -- one for the better, and one for the worse. The Grizzlies overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit -- it was 21 points in the third -- to beat the Celtics 101-98. It was the NBA-leading sixth time the Grizzlies have come back from down double digits in the final quarter. For the Celtics, meanwhile, it was the second time in a week they gave up a double-digit lead in the second half.
NBA scores 2016: Grizzlies are comeback kings, and Celtics have a 4th quarter problem
A 21-point lead wasn’t enough for the Celtics, Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are surging and everything else from NBA Sunday.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
It was a vintage Zach Randolph performance leading the way for the Grizzlies. He had 25 points and 13 rebounds as Marc Gasol added 11 points and 11 rebounds on a night when the Grizzlies found the grit and the grind in the fourth quarter.
Isaiah Thomas' 35 points and eight assists were for naught because the Celtics crumpled in the fourth quarter, unable to play the stingy defense that has become their signature.
The Grizzlies are coming back by forcing teams to play their way. The Celtics are floundering by forgetting what got them there. Sunday’s game was a microcosm of the Grizzlies’ strength and the Celtics’ weakness.
Early on, the Celtics were locking up the Grizzlies on defense and getting to the basket. They jumped out to a 34-16 lead after one and were up 53-38 at halftime. They were executing coach Brad Stevens' plays to perfection.
They built up a 21-point lead in the third quarter, but then the defense crumbled. The Grizzlies took advantage.
After a miserable first half, they wore the Celtics down and completely obliterated one of the best defenses in the league by putting up 63 points in the half. They did it methodically and by playing tough basketball. Of the Grizzlies final 15 points, 13 of them came on free throws. Plus, the Grizzlies locked down the Celtics. They won thanks in big part to a massive team block on Marcus Smart with less than a minute to play that protected a one-point lead.
The Celtics are struggling to close out games. The Celtics’ defensive rating (points per 100 possessions) this season is 97.9 -- second-best in the league. In the fourth quarter, however, it jumps up to 105.7. That’s a trouble trend for a team that plays such great defense the first three quarters of the game. And the frustration is showing.
The Grizzlies meanwhile, are stepping up their offense and defense in the fourth. Their offensive rating jumps from 99.5 overall to 102.6 in the fourth and the defensive rating drops from 101.9 to 100.7.
The Grizzlies do wear you down in one game, and in the playoffs they’re a team that could really grind out a seven-game series. Watch out, Western Conference.
2 other things we learned
Never count out Damian Lillard.
The Portland Trail Blazers were down by seven to the Oklahoma City Thunder with 3:20 to play. Damian Lillard only had 14 points at that point. Then he went nuclear. Lillard hit five threes and added two free throws as the Blazers came back to stun the Thunder, 115-110.
This season has not gone the way the Blazers, or Lillard, expected it to, but Lillard is a star. He had 28 points in the second half on his way to 31 on the night. He added nine assists and seven rebounds. The Thunder are the superior team and have Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, but Lillard was the best player on the court down the stretch on Sunday.
Carmelo Anthony is carrying the New York Knicks even if he isn’t in the spotlight.
Kristaps Porzingis is making plays (See: Play of the night, below), but Anthony is doing everything in his power to make the Knicks a playoff team. Anthony had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the way for the Knicks in a 100-88 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. He was 10-of-16 from the field as the Knicks won their fourth game in five tries to climb to 19-20. Anthony is taking what the defense is giving him and deferring to his teammates when necessary. He's playing some of the best overall basketball of his career -- he's fighting for loose balls and helping the Knicks' defense. Porzingis, meanwhile, had 15 points, six rebounds and five blocks on a night when he once again wowed the crowd with amazing plays and unlimited potential. This Knicks team wouldn't make the playoffs if they started today, but if they continue to play like this, they will be a threat.
Don’t count out the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets trailed the Indiana Pacers by five with 1:56 to play in regulation. They sent the game to overtime. There, they gave up the first six points. They went on a 14-4 run to win 107-103. Trevor Ariza led the Rockets with 24 points -- and he hit the game-tying three at the end of regulation -- but it was James Harden driving Houston's offense. He had 21 points and dished out nine assists. No one on the Pacers could guard him. He was setting up buckets at will. Of the Rockets' five field goals in overtime, Harden assisted four of them.
The Rockets climbed to .500 with the win. They still have their problems, but any time Harden is on offensively, they’re capable of hanging with anyone.
Play of the night
Porzingis can do no wrong, especially when he’s throwing down putback dunks with the force of an entire city behind him. And what makes Porzingis so great is that he doesn’t just stop there, he goes and gets a block on the next play. Give him the key to the city.
4 fun things
Scores
Clippers 114, Pelicans 111 OT (Clips Nation recap | The Bird Writes recap)
Cavaliers 95, 76ers 85 (Fear the Sword recap | Liberty Ballers recap)
Grizzlies 101, Celtics 98 (Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Celtics Blog recap)
Rockets 107, Pacers 103 (The Dream Shake recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
Knicks 100, Bucks 88 (Posting and Toasting recap | Brew Hoop recap)
Nuggets 95, Hornets 92 (Denver Stiffs recap | At the Hive recap)
Blazers 115, Thunder 110 (Blazers’ Edge recap | Welcome to Loud City recap)
Jazz 86, Lakers 74 (SLC Dunk recap | Silver Screen and Roll recap)
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