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Grizzlies aim for 3-1 series lead vs. Spurs

Apr 25, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - If the Memphis Grizzlies had a bucket list, you can bet they would be checking things off at a feverish pace.

The upstart Grizzlies have already won the first postseason game in franchise history and followed that up with their first ever playoff win at home. Now, Memphis hopes to move one step closer to taking its first postseason series when renew hostilities with top-seeded San Antonio in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

The Grizz took a 2-1 lead in the set on Saturday when Zach Randolph scored 25 points, including a key three-pointer in the final minute, as Memphis held on for a 91-88 victory.

The Spurs had about six seconds left to set up a final shot, but Manu Ginobili dribbled into a pair of defenders on the right side and got stuck as time ran out.

Marc Gasol added 17 points, Mike Conley scored 14 and Memphis was able to hold off a comeback attempt by San Antonio after leading by as many as 15 points in the second quarter and by double-digits for most of the third.

Ginobili led the Spurs with 23 points in his second game back after missing Game 1 with a right elbow sprain. Tony Parker added 16 and Tim Duncan scored 13 with 11 rebounds, but San Antonio never led after 12-11 despite clawing back in the second half.

Randolph was scanning the court, looking to pass as the shot clock wound down, when he squared up instead and buried a three-pointer over Duncan on the right side to give Memphis a 91-86 lead with 41.9 seconds left.

"The play was designed to go to Marc, but he dropped off and I took the shot," Randolph said. "It felt real good to hit that shot, that time of the game. We're not done yet. We have to stay humble, a quick turn-around for Monday."

Ginobili made a pair of free throws at the other end -- he was 12-of-14 from the line -- to draw the Spurs within three points, and they caught a break when Randolph missed a jumper. But instead of calling a timeout, the Spurs squandered the precious final seconds without taking a shot.

"That was my fault. I wasn't quick enough to get (the timeout)," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "(Ginobili) got out of there so quick. I should've been all over the referee to get the timeout. That was my fault."

"We came up and trapped Ginobili. We just wanted to keep him off the three and force him to take a two," Randolph added.

Randolph made up for his poor performance in Game 2 Wednesday, when he scored just 11 points in a 93-87 loss after signing a multi-year contract extension earlier in the day.

"We played individual and better team defense in Game 2," said Popovich. "That didn't happen tonight."

The Spurs weren't much better on the offensive end, shooting just 2-for-15 from three-point range. Ginobili said it was a combination of things that led to the inaccurate shooting.

"I think it was Tony's and my mistakes not to find our teammates when they were open," he said. "We were not sharp enough finding teammates. They are making an effort not leaving the corners open for shots. We either have to find a way to get our teammates or get our guys more open, or attack more, or do something else."

Spurs starting center Antonio McDyess was injured late in the fourth when Duncan came down on his neck/shoulder area as they jostled for a rebound on the Memphis end. McDyess, who scored eight with 10 rebounds, couldn't stand all the way up and walked the locker room hunched over but is expected to play tonight.

These teams split four games in the regular season. In their only previous postseason meeting the Spurs swept the Grizz in four games back in the 2004 playoffs.

Game 5 of the series will be back in the Alamo City on Wednesday.