The Memphis Grizzlies were defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers, 99-92 on
Wednesday night in the Moda Center. The Grizzlies dropped to 16-15 on the season
and are now 7-9 on the road. The Trail Blazers improved to 18-13 on the year.
Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 23 points and a game-high six assists. Conley
has now scored 20+ points in 17 games this season. Kyle Anderson continued to
build on his strong December, scoring 15 points (7-8 FG) to go with four steals,
five rebounds and three assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 16 points and five
rebounds. Marc Gasol finished just short of a double-double with 14 points and
nine rebounds, while having four steals and assists apiece. Garrett Temple
chipped in with 10 points, two blocks and two steals.
The Grizzlies shot 33-for-78 (.423) in the game and 9-for-27 (.333) from
three-point range while the Trail Blazers were 35-for-75 (.467) from the floor
and 11-for-26 (.423) from three. Portland outrebounded Memphis 44-35, leading to
16 second-chance points compared to nine for the Grizzlies. The Trail Blazers
committed 21 turnovers which led to 15 points for the Grizzlies, but the
Grizzlies turned the ball over 13 points which also led to 15 points for
Portland. Memphis finished with 10 blocked shots, marking the fourth time this
year the team has blocked 10 or more shots. The last time it happened was also
against Portland on Dec. 12.
Damian Lillard led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-18 (.500) shooting. Meyers
Leonard came off the bench to score 12 and grab eight rebounds. CJ McCollum
added 11 points while Zach Collins finished with 10.
Portland opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run over a 4:06 stretch (11:43
to 7:37) to increase their lead to 85-71, a lead the Grizzlies couldn’t
overcome. The Trail Blazers shot 9-for-18 (.500) in the period while the
Grizzlies were 7-for-20 (.350). Gasol scored 12 of his 14 points during the
final period. Portland made 8-of-16 (.500) three-pointers in the second half.
In the third quarter, Memphis shot a higher percentage than Portland by making
6-of-13 (.462) shots, but Portland snapped their cold spell from beyond the arc,
going 6-for-10 (.600) from three during the quarter. The Grizzlies blocked five
shots in the period, the most in any third quarter this year. Lillard scored 15
points (4-5 3P) in the period to help lead 74-71.
The teams shot comparably well, with Memphis shooting 20-for-45 (.444) and
Portland finishing 17-for-37 (.459) in the first half. The Grizzlies forced the
Trail Blazers into 12 turnovers (seven steals) during the half while committing
just five of their own. Both squads had exactly 22 points in the paint in the
half.
The Grizzlies opened up the game with a 15-4 run in the first quarter from 11:38
to 5:41 (5:57 span), and forced the Trail Blazers into four turnovers during the
run. Memphis cooled off after that, with Portland outscoring them 13-3 the rest
of the way to cut the Grizzlies lead to 18-17 at the end of the quarter. Both
teams struggled from three-point range, going a combined 2-for-12 beyond the
arc. The Grizzlies forced the Trail Blazers into eight turnovers in the quarter.
Both offenses got on track in the second quarter, with the Grizzlies going
13-for-26 (.500) from the floor and the Trail Blazers shooting 11-for-19 (.579).
Memphis also was 5-for-11 (.455) from three-point range in the period. Ivan Rabb
grabbed five offensive rebounds in the quarter, the most in a quarter by a
Grizzlies player this season, and scored six points in five minutes of action.
Conley hit three three-pointers in the final 1:48 of the second period,
including one with .9 seconds remaining before halftime, to give him 14 points
in the quarter and help the Grizzlies lead 52-47.
The Grizzlies continue the west coast trip when they return to California to
challenge the Sacramento Kings on Friday, December 21 at 9 p.m. CT at Golden 1
Center. Tune in to FOX Sports Southeast presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners
or listen on 92.9 FM ESPN to follow the action.
Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2018-19 Season
Tickets or 6-Game Holiday Packs can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going
online to grizzlies.com/tickets. Single Game Tickets are also available for
purchase at the FedExForum Box Office, ticketmaster.com, online at
grizzlies.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. For more information on the
Grizzlies, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter and
Instagram (@memgrizz).
Download or Update the Official Grizzlies App
Player: Kyle Anderson
Player: Jevon Carter
Player: Mike Conley
Player: Marc Gasol
Player: JaMychal Green
Player: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Player: Shelvin Mack
Player: Ivan Rabb
Player: Wayne Selden
Player: Garrett Temple
Media Content:
https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/postgame-report-grizzlies-fade-in-second-half-
lose-99-92-181220
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Memphis Grizzlies, Kyle Anderson, Jevon Carter,
Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, JaMychal Green, Jaren Jackson Jr., Shelvin Mack, Ivan
Rabb, Wayne Selden, Garrett Temple, J.B. Bickerstaff, Memphis Grizzlies,
Portland Trail Blazers
Media Thumbnail:
https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/sites/grizzlies/files/mike-conley-1074431796.jpg
Story Link:
https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/postgame-report-grizzlies-fade-in-second-half-
lose-99-92-181220
