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 The Memphis Grizzlies clawed at that open wound Thursday night,
making 15 of 20 fourth-quarter field-goal attempts, including two
clutch 3-pointers from forward Jeff Green in the final 3:23,
producing a 112-103 victory over the Pacers in Bankers Life
Fieldhouse.
Memphis (1-1), which made four of five treys in the pivotal final 12
minutes, scored 39 fourth-quarter points, including finishing on a
20-10 run.
Indiana (0-2) allowed 69 second-half points in Wednesday night's
season-opening loss at Toronto and has given up 131 points in the
third and fourth quarters of its two defeats. It is the first time
since the 2009-10 season that the Pacers have started the season
0-2.
Center Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 20 points, pacing seven
Memphis players in double figures. Guards Mike Conley and Beno Udrih
added 13 apiece, and Green scored 12, including 10 in the final
quarter, when the Grizzlies outscored the Pacers, 39-28.
"I thought we moved the ball better tonight," Gasol said. "We had a
little more pop in our step. Late, we made some adjustments on
defense, played higher on the pick and roll and rebounded well.
"When our defense is clicking, our offense is easier. We move the
ball better and communicate better. We did that in the final
quarter."
Conley dished out a game-high 10 assists.
Guard George Hill led Indiana with 20 points, and forward Paul
George and guard C.J. Miles each added 18 for the Pacers, whose five
game-game winning streak in home openers was snapped.
Memphis now has beaten Indiana four consecutive times, including two
in a row in Indianapolis.
Memphis coach Dave Joerger said that there were too many possessions
in the opening half, most of them created by the Pacers' desire to
force the tempo.
"Once their 3s dried up a little bit, we did a good job of getting
closer to guys, contesting shots and not giving up second-chance
points," Joerger said. "Down the stretch, we executed, didn't turn
the ball over and got shots that we were looking for. We don't want
to play 100-possession games. In years past, Indiana didn't want to,
either. But this is their new team."
A 26-10 Memphis run, capped by a Conley 3-pointer with 7:28
remaining, pushed the Grizzlies into a 92-86 lead, but Hill scored
the next four, and with 6:21 remaining, the Pacers were within
92-90.
A George 3-pointer at the 5:52 mark gave Indiana a 93-92 lead, but
after that, Memphis enjoyed the 20-10, game-closing burst.
"We have to use our pace to our advantage," said Miles, noting that
Memphis shot 75 percent from the field in the final 12 minutes. "We
had to make stops and not make turnovers."
Indiana turned the ball over only three times in the fourth quarter
but could not make the stops to which Miles referred.
"They are very good at the style they play, and their style won
tonight," Pacers center Ian Mahinmi said.
While Pacers coach Frank Vogel is in favor of his team's faster pace
on offense, he will continue to constantly remind his players that
defense still is a huge part of the process.
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"Their guys are proven offensive weapons," Vogel said. "They are
confident players who are accustomed to winning. We got caught up in
several pick-and-roll situations that really hurt us. We definitely
can get a lot better defensively."
Memphis finished 41 of 82 from the field, including 7 of 16 from
3-point range, and 23 of 29 from the free-throw line.
The Grizzlies finished the third quarter on a 7-0 run to slice what
had been a 75-66 Pacers lead to 75-73 through 36 minutes. Indiana
began the second half on a 9-1 run, using a Hill 3-pointer at the
10:07 mark to seize a 58-51 lead, prompting a Memphis timeout.
Hill and Miles each made two 3-pointers during a third quarter in
which Indiana outscored the Grizzlies 26-23.
Memphis had a roller-coaster first half, finally settling for a
50-49 lead through 24 minutes after leading by as many as 15 in the
first quarter.
After missing 15 of its first 18 field-goal attempts, Indiana began
to climb back into the game, making 17 of 24 after that.. Four
Pacers non-starters, forward Chase Budinger, guard Rodney Stuckey,
forward Myles Turner and Miles, combined for 26 first-half points,
making a collective 11 of 15 field-goal attempts, including three of
five from 3-point range.
Indiana outscored Memphis 29-21 during the second quarter, making 13
of 19 shots (68.4 percent).
Indiana outrebounded Memphis 22-19 through 24 minutes, though the
Grizzlies wound up with a 42-38 edge on the boards.
George and Hill each were assessed a technical foul in the first
half. George was fined $10,000 on Thursday after complaining
publicly about the officiating in Wednesday's loss at Toronto.
NOTES: Three Memphis starters -- F Zach Randolph, G Courtney Lee and
G Mike Conley -- played high school basketball in Indiana. Randolph
starred at Marion, Lee at Indianapolis Pike and Conley at
Indianapolis Lawrence North. ... Grizzlies F Tony Allen started in
place of F Jeff Green. ... Memphis was coming off a 106-76
opening-night loss at home to Cleveland, which got 17 points and 13
rebounds from F Kevin Love. ... Indiana also was coming off an
opening-night loss, 106-99 in Toronto, a game in which Pacers PG
George Hill scored 19 points. ... Memphis played without F Jarell
Martin, who is sidelined after undergoing left foot surgery. ...
Indiana was without F Glenn Robinson, who is battling a sore right
shoulder. ... The Pacers lost at Memphis in last season's 82nd and
final game, costing Indiana the eighth and final playoff berth in
the East.
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Grizzlies
use big fourth quarter to beat Pacers
