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Grizzlies dominate Spurs, take 3-1 series lead

Apr 26, 2011 - 6:55 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Mike Conley led a balanced attack, finishing with 15 points and seven assists, as the Memphis Grizzlies handled the San Antonio Spurs, 104-86, in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Darrell Arthur supplied 14 points off the bench and Tony Allen netted 12 in a starting role for eighth-seeded Memphis, which now has a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and will try to close it out on Wednesday in San Antonio.

Zach Randolph ended with 11 points and nine boards for the victors.

Tony Parker led all scorers with 23 points, but committed seven turnovers for the top-seeded Spurs, who got 14 points from Manu Ginobili.

Tim Duncan, celebrating his 35th birthday, was limited to six points and seven rebounds in defeat.

"We've been playing 24 of the 48 minutes throughout this series," Duncan said. "They played better for longer."

The Spurs led 26-21 after the opening 12 minutes and went back and forth throughout the second.

Allen's layup with one minute left before the half put the Grizzlies ahead 48-45, but George Hill answered with a three-pointer and Parker made a floater to give San Antonio a 50-48 edge heading into the locker room.

Memphis came out and scored the first 14 points of the third quarter to gain the lead and start to take over the game. Sam Young's jumper tied things to get the run going and the Grizzlies quickly got the Spurs into foul trouble.

The visitors drained eight free throws after Young's jumper, before Allen made a layup and Young closed out the run with a dunk off a Duncan turnover to put the Grizzlies ahead 62-50 with 7:40 remaining in the quarter.

Duncan finished off an 11-4 surge to draw his squad within five a short time later, but Memphis had the answer.

Arthur made a pair of jumpers to end a 12-4 run and give the Grizzlies a 78-65 lead after three and they would not look back in the fourth.

"They're so focused on Marc [Gasol] and Zach [Randolph] down low. They can't double everybody, so somebody's going to be open," Arthur said. "Tonight was my night to make some shots."

O.J. Mayo hit from long distance and Arthur added an alley-oop dunk and jumper to put the visitors in front by a commanding 85-67 score with 8:41 left and San Antonio never threatened the outcome, trailing by double-digits the rest of the way.

Game Notes

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...The Grizzlies made 50.6 percent of their shots and 5-of-12 from three-point range, while San Antonio made 46.7 percent of its shots and hit five three-pointers, but committed 17 costly turnovers...Mayo ended with 11 points in a reserve role.