Final
Blazers top Grizzlies, secure No. 6 seed
Apr 13, 2011 - 6:09 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - LaMarcus Aldridge finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds as Portland topped Memphis, 102-89, to lock up the sixth seed in the Western Conference."We got it done, we clinched," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We were able to close it out and I think it's a great accomplishment."
The Trail Blazers have to await Wednesday's games to decide their first round opponent.
Rudy Fernandez scored 18 in a reserve role while Nicolas Batum posted 16 points with five boards for Portland, which has won five of six.
Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies with 17 points. O.J. Mayo and Sam Young both scored 13 as Memphis played without starters Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, who were both receiving a day off for rest by head coach Lionel Hollins.
"We were playing with some guys down," Mayo said. "We were allowing (Randolph) to get some rest, we were just a few guys short."
The Grizzlies currently hold the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference, but are tied with New Orleans with 46-35 records. Both teams will complete their regular-season schedule on Wednesday. New Orleans holds the tiebreaker.
Memphis played solid without Randolph and Allen, trailing 27-25 after one and knotting the game at 45 at the break.
Batum scored 10 of his points in the third quarter as Portland shot 46 percent from the field and took a 74-66 lead into the final stanza.
The Blazers slowly started to pull away in the opening minutes of the fourth, and after a Fernandez three-pointer 3 1/2 minutes in their lead was 83-73. Portland's lead never fell below eight throughout the duration.
Game Notes
Portland took 2-of-3 in the season series and finished 30-11 at home...The Blazers will head to Golden State to cap their season while the Grizzlies will visit the Los Angeles Clippers...Gerald Wallace and Wesley Matthews scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the win...Shane Battier and Marc Gasol scored 12 and 11, respectively, in the loss...Gasol grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
- MEMPHIS: 89
PORTLAND: 102
Final
Apr 13 12:26 AM - MEMPHIS: 66
PORTLAND: 74
End of 3rd
Apr 12 11:56 PM - MEMPHIS: 45
PORTLAND: 45
Halftime
Apr 12 11:08 PM - MEMPHIS: 25
PORTLAND: 27
End of 1st
Apr 12 10:36 PM - MEMPHIS: 0
PORTLAND: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Apr 12 10:14 PM
Related News
- Sharpe, Ayton Questionable Against Kings Dec 25
- How Long Will It Take the Trail Blazers to Be Good Again? Dec 25
- What Was Your Biggest Trail Blazers Disappointment of 2023? Dec 25
- What’s Your Biggest Trail Blazers Joy This Year? Dec 25
- How Is the Moda Center Experience This Season? Dec 25
- A Christmas Gift for the Portland Trail Blazers Dec 25
- NBA Christmas Day Schedule Open Thread Dec 25
- The 12 Highlights of Trail Blazers Christmas Dec 24
- Favale: Trail Blazers Need to Clear Runway More for Youth Dec 24
- Send Your Questions for Tuesday’s Blazers vs. Kings Game! Dec 24
- Tyler Herro is NOT the Coal in Joe Cronin’s Stocking this Christmas Dec 24
- Billups: Warriors ‘Kicked our Butts’ on Rebounds Dec 24