The Lead: The Grizzlies won this one 119-112, but that final score is a little misleading. This was not generally a close game. Through three quarters, the Knicks were simply outclassed both in terms of talent and effort, and were down 94-73. Then the Grizzlies got too comfortable with the lead and stopped playing defense, allowing 39 fourth-quarter points. The game never really felt in doubt, but the Knicks did get it down to 5 points in the final minute.
That lackadaisical fourth-quarter defense kept this one from being the blowout it should have been and prevented coach Lionel Hollins from being able to empty his bench down the stretch and get his starters more rest, which would have been useful with a much more talented Denver Nuggets team coming in tomorrow night.
Despite the disappointing finish, the Grizzlies got efficient performances from four of five starters (lone exception: Zach Randolph, who got a typical 24-11, but on 7-20 shooting) and useful production off the bench. The Grizzlies have now won two in a row at home and five of their past six games to move to 35-31 on the season.