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Randolph scores 21 as Trail Blazers escape Grizzlies

Dec 14, 2006 - 4:03 AM MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- For the second consecutive game, Zach Randolph saved the day for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Randolph made three free throws in the final 2.9 seconds and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Trail Blazers won for the fourth time in six games with an 85-79 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Two nights after hitting a layup with 2.4 seconds left in the Trail Blazers' 81-79 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Randolph recorded his fifth double-double in seven games to give Portland its first three-game winning streak of the campaign.

"Guys are really coming together right now, and we're doing what we have to do and what we're supposed to do," Randolph said. "We're learning how to play 48 minutes and scrap and play defense the whole way."

"Zach has been an All-Star this year," Portland guard Juan Dixon said. "He's commanding the double team. He (is) playing smart and making the right plays. Most importantly, he's putting the ball in the basket and going out and getting double figures in rebounds for us."

Randolph reached his 14th double-double of the season in the first half with 14 points and 11 rebounds before finishing 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. However, he he was shut down for most of the second half and played with five fouls down the stretch.

"Things didn't go my way in the second half," Randolph said. "I didn't shoot a whole lot in the second half, but I was able to get the ball out to some teammates and still make some things happen."

After Juan Dixon caped a 10-2 run with a layup that gave Portland a 76-66 lead with 4:45 to play, the Grizzlies turned to rookie Rudy Gay, who scored eight points in a 13-2 burst. Alexander Johnson capped the spurt with two free throws for a 79-78 edge with 1:15 to play.

"Basketball is a game of runs," Dixon said. "We let them get a lot of easy baskets and get back into this game, but we were able to get the stops we needed down the stretch and execute to get the win."

"I thought from beginning to end tonight we played hard, but we just couldn't get our shots to fall in," Memphis coach Mike Fratello said. "Our effort picked up there towards the end."

Ime Udoka followed with a 20-foot jumper 15 seconds later to put the Trail Blazers in front, 80-79.

Memphis had several chances to score in the final minute. However, Blazers forward Travis Outlaw blocked two shots and Chucky Atkins and Mike Miller each threw away passes for the Grizzlies. Randolph made three straight foul shots before missing one with two seconds to go. However, Outlaw sealed the victory with a layup at the buzzer.

Udoka scored 15 points and Jarrett Jack and Dixon added 11 each for the Trail Blazers, who won their sixth road game to tie last season's total.

Miller scored 20 points, Damon Stoudamire had 15 and Atkins 14 for Memphis, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.

"This one was different," Miller said. "We were missing easy shots. At the end of the day, you just have to find ways to score. Beginning of the game, middle of the game, end of the game, you got to find ways to score."

Randolph scored nine first-quarter points, including a three-point play, and Udoka hit a pair of baskets from the arc as the Trail Blazers sank 10-of-17 shots en route to 27-14 lead.

"It's frustrating," said Gay about trailing early. "We haven't pinpointed exactly what it is. It's tough getting down early and having to come back. We need to figure out what's going on."

After trailing by 21 points in the second period, Memphis gradually chipped away and used an 18-9 run to close the third quarter to cut its deficit to 64-57. Atkins nailed a pair of 3-pointers and a layup and Miller scored five points during the burst.

"We have to learn how to put a team away," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "When you have a lead, you have to know how to put them away. You can't give them any life. We were able to recover tonight, but we have to work on that."