By Michael Wallace
Grind City Media
MEMPHIS – This Nasty Nine thing is catching on.
The injury-depleted Grizzlies picked up another huge home win at FedExForum on Saturday, holding off the Los Angeles Lakers 103-100 despite having just nine available players for a third consecutive game.
Troy Daniels scored a career-high 31 points, JaMychal Green had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Marc Gasol finished with 19 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies (13-8), who improved to 9-0 this season in “super-clutch” games that are within three points in the final minute of the contest.
Check out our three key takeaways from Saturday’s game.
TURNING POINT
There were nine lead changes in the final quarter, but the Grizzlies used a 9-2 spurt to pull ahead down the stretch. Once again, the complexion of the game changed midway through the fourth once defensive stalwart Tony Allen reentered for the final push. Allen, limited by foul trouble throughout the game, grabbed seven of his nine rebounds during a key stretch in the fourth and did just enough defensively to cool off Lakers guard Lou Williams, whose 40 points were the most off the bench by a Grizzlies’ opponent in franchise history. Allen’s defensive dominance also lifted Memphis from a 14-point deficit with six minutes left in Thursday’s home victory against Orlando.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
With Mike Conley likely sidelined for six weeks, Gasol appears to have expanded his playmaking responsibilities to help fill the void. Big Spain is even having fun while do so, as evidenced by his highlight moment of the game. That came with 6:53 left in the first quarter, when Gasol ball-faked a Lakers defender at the top of the key, then drove into the lane and dished a no-look drop-off pass as Green cut toward the basket from the baseline and finished at the rim to put Memphis ahead 11-10.
WHO SHINED
Troy Daniels. After telling reporters he’s got a “money-green light” from coach David Fizdale to shoot it from anywhere at any time, Daniels went out and delivered a third consecutive big performance off the bench. At one point in the first half, Daniels launched a 27-foot shot and missed. It was clearly a heat check. Fizdale then yelled at Daniels to “shoot it again, and keep shooting.” That’s all Daniels needed to hear on a night when he scored 23 in the first half to set a franchise record for most points off the bench in a half. His 31 points came on the heels of consecutive 19-point efforts the previous two games. Daniels shot 12-for-23 overall, including 6-for-12 on threes. He also had four assists in 34 minutes.
UPSIDE/DOWNSIDE
Whether healthy or depleted by injuries, the Grizzlies just aren’t in the business of making anything easy on themselves. Every game is a close game, but credit this team for finding a way in the end on most nights. The two most impressive stats from Saturday’s game were Memphis’ season-high 32 assists on 41 made baskets and the 25 points scored off 18 Lakers’ turnovers. The Grizzlies repeatedly looked for open teammates and kept the ball moving. One of the game’s most underrated developments was the encouraging performance from Wade Baldwin IV, who had a career-high – nine assists and just two turnovers. Baldwin needed such a boost at a time when Memphis needs all the playmaking it can get.
ROTATION DEVELOPMENT
Back to the ‘Nasty Nine.’ Well, it was fun while it lasted. The Grizzlies are expected to sign journeyman combo guard Toney Douglas on Monday once they get clearance from the league for an injury exception that allows for a 16th roster spot. Barring a last-minute snag, Douglas arrives just in time to join the team for Monday’s game in New Orleans. He played 61 games last season for the Pelicans but was recently in training camp with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who released Douglas once J.R. Smith’s contract holdout ended late in the preseason. The Grizzlies will still be without Conley (back), Vince Carter (hip), Chandler Parsons (knee), James Ennis (calf) and Brandan Wright (ankle). Zach Randolph, whose mother was buried Saturday in Indiana, will likely rejoin the team in the next couple days.
RECAP
WHAT’S NEXT
Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, 7:00 pm (TV: TV: Grizzlies Live! Pregame Show FOX Sports Southeast 6:30 p.m./Radio: Grizzlies Pregame Show 92.9 FM ESPN, 6:30 p.m.)
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.