• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Miller has huge fourth quarter as Grizzlies top Bobcats

Nov 4, 2006 - 4:01 AM MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Mike Miller got knocked down. Then he knocked out the Charlotte Bobcats.

Miller scored 21 of his 27 points in a blistering fourth-quarter run and Hakim Warrick added 15 as the Memphis Grizzlies posted a 96-83 victory over the Bobcats.

Lawrence Roberts had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who won their fifth straight meeting with the Bobcats for their first victory of the season.

"There was a little bit of pressure trying to get our first win, but the main thing was trying to come out and provide a lot of energy," Roberts said. "In that fourth quarter, we pulled it together as far as energy and defense and got the win."

In Wednesday's triple-overtime loss to New York, Miller had a chance to win the game for Memphis but missed a jumper in the lane as time expired.

On Friday, the 6-8 swingman appeared to be seriously injured by Bobcats center Jake Voskuhl when he was hip-checked as he drove the lane early in the fourth quarter. However, Miller returned and made 6-of-8 shots, including 4-of-4 3-pointers.

"It's going to be hard to win games like that," Miller said. "We have to figure out a way to get it done in the first, second and third quarter, but we'll take it any way we can get it right now."

Trailing, 70-60, after three quarters, Memphis outscored Charlotte, 36-13, in the final period, highlighted by a 22-2 spurt over the first 5 1/2 minutes.

"Anytime you hold a team to 13 points in the fourth quarter, it doesn't matter how many points you're down, you're going to give yourself a chance to win," Miller said. "Our defense won that game in the fourth quarter. We made some shots, but the defense did it."

Warrick also grabbed six boards for Memphis, which controlled the backboards with a 19-5 advantage on the offensive glass and 19 second-chance points.

"I'm trying to stay aggressive," Warrick said. "(Memphis) coach (Mike Fratello) has the confidence to go to me, so I just have to bring the energy and perform."

Rookie Adam Morrison scored 21 points - none in the final period - for the Bobcats, who shot 47 percent (32-of-68) and had 19 turnovers.

Morrison was blanketed in the fourth quarter by Grizzlies guard Dahntay Jones, who forced the young forward into a number of tough shots down the stretch.

"He did a good job bodying up on me," Morrison said of Jones. "He was staying on me coming off screens. This is the NBA. He was doing a good job shutting me down."

"I can't say enough about how well Dahntay played on Morrison in the second half," Fratello said. "We cut down his choices by minimizing the things he can do on offense and it ended up giving us a chance to win."