By: Tyler Ward
The Tim Duncan-less Spurs traveled to Memphis on Sunday to take on the surging Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis, currently in eighth place in the West, has been a great team as of late, going 6-4 in the last ten games.
It was a close game the entire way until the Grizzlies pulled away in the last remaining minutes to win the game, 111-104.
Tony Allen, one of the most over-achieving players for the Grizzlies, tallied 23 points for the up-and-coming team. He also added five steals and four rebounds to his total.
Zach Randolph also added 23 points and 11 rebounds to conserve yet another double-double.
Mike Conley added 12 points, while Marc Gasol compiled 11 points and 8 rebounds. O.J. Mayo also scored 17 points in the win.
As of right now, if things stay the way they are, the Grizzlies will be the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs and who will they be facing? Those very same Spurs.
The Spurs were without Duncan, who sprained his ankle a few games ago. The Spurs were also without Manu Ginobili for most of the second half, as he suffered a quad contusion.
Ginobili finished the game, while playing 19 minutes and scoring just two points on 1-for-3 shooting.
George Hill was the lone bright spot for the Spurs, as he scored 30 points off the bench, including 9-for-12 shooting and 11-for-12 from the free throw line.
Point guard Tony Parker added 20 points, along with six assists and three rebounds.
Richard Jefferson scored 13 points, along with rookie Gary Neal scoring 11. No other Spur scored in double-digits.
The Grizzlies are now five games above .500, sitting at 41-36, while the Spurs slip down to 57-16.
