Conley leads late rally as Grizzlies defeat Portland 92-83
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Mike Conley scored 23 points and keyed a fourth-quarter outburst as the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away for a 92-83 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 14 points, and MarShon Brooks added 13 as the Grizzlies snapped a two-game losing streak.
C.J. McCollum matched his season high with 40 points, while Damian Lillard was held to a season-low 14 points, connecting on only 4 of 18 shots.
The Trail Blazers’ 83 points were a season low.
Portland had pulled within 79-78 on a reverse layup by Lillard with 5:27 left. But Memphis rattled off 13 straight points, including eight by Conley, stretching the lead to a game-high 14 points at 92-78, and the Grizzlies coasted home.
Neither team shot particularly well, but Lillard’s misfires contributed to the Trail Blazers shooting 38 percent.
Memphis led 42-40 after a spirited first half that included jawing between players and coaches complaining to officials. Portland held an early 11-point lead, but a strong second quarter from Memphis that included a 17-2 rally erased the advantage.
Neither team was shooting well – both at 36 percent – and that included 3-point range, where the teams were a combined 6 of 27.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Maurice Harkless did not play, sitting out the game for rest. … Portland is in the midst of playing three games in four nights. … McCollum missed all five of his 3-pointers in Tuesday’s loss to Houston. And he missed two more before connecting from long range late in the second quarter. That was only the second 3-pointer in the half for Portland. … Lillard, the league’s fourth-leading scorer, has reached double figures in every game this season.
Grizzlies: Coach J.B. Bickerstaff drew a technical in the first quarter when he complained about a no-call he believed was goaltending. … Marc Gasol started 2 of 11 from the field, and ended the game 4 of 15. … The Grizzlies have held all but three opponents this season under their scoring average, including the Trail Blazers, who entered the game averaging 112 points a game.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host Toronto on Friday
Grizzlies: Host the Miami Heat on Friday.
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