Kings 96 - 101 Grizzlies
Final
  for this game

Grizzlies shoot for playoff berth in bout with Kings

Apr 8, 2011 - 3:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies will try to clinch the final postseason spot available tonight when they play host to the Sacramento Kings.

Despite a loss to the Clippers in its last encounter on Tuesday, Memphis leads Houston by 3 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff slot in the Western Conference. A win tonight by the Grizz will lock up a playoff berth and end a four-year postseason drought for the franchise.

Blake Griffin finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday as the Clippers used a strong fourth quarter to edge the Grizzlies, 82-81, at FedEx Forum.

Mike Conley finished with a game-high 20 points while both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol scored 14 points as the Grizzlies had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Memphis, however, has gone an impressive 25-11 since Jan. 20 in its push for a playoff spot. The only way the Grizzlies could miss out on a playoff berth would be to lose their remaining four games while the Rockets win their final three.

"I'm very happy," Conley said. "Not satisfied, but it's a great feeling to be in the position we're in right now."

The Kings, meanwhile, were crushed in San Antonio on Wednesday when Manu Ginobili scored 25 points and the Spurs shot over 60 percent from the field in a 124-92 blowout of Sacramento. The win, coupled with the Lakers' loss to Golden State, clinched the No. 1 seed in the West for the Spurs.

The Kings, who had a two-game winning streak broken, were led by 16 points from Tyreke Evans. DeMarcus Cousins tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Samuel Dalembert had 12 with 10 boards.

"My overall assessment is that the Spurs are very, very good," opined Kings head coach Paul Westphal.

Beno Udrih had 11 points and Francisco Garcia 10 in defeat.

Memphis has won four of its last five versus Sacramento, which has dropped 10 of 13 trips to the Volunteer State.






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