San Antonio vs. Memphis, Final Score: Spurs hold off pesky Grizzlies for 108-88 win

A big second quarter won this game for the Spurs.

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Spurs took care of the Memphis Grizzlies, staving off a late comeback attempt for a 108-88 win. Five Spurs scored in double-figures, led by 19 from Derrick White. Mike Conley had 21 points for Grizzles. The Spurs have now matched their season-high of four-straight wins and move to 23-17, good for sixth in the West.

Random Observations

  • The Grizzlies have three former Spurs: Kyle Anderson, Garrett Temple, and JaMychal Green, which is nice, but the Spurs can top it with four former Grizzlies: Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Dante Cunningham, and Quincy Pondexter. Take that for data!
  • Not too surprisingly, the Spurs started out with a bit of a hangover after the emotions that were exerted in the last game. Memphis got out to 15-8 lead by the time Pop called his second timeout not even halfway through the first quarter. White (9 points and a block of Anderson in transition) and the bench helped spark them back into the game, and the Spurs led 27-25 heading into the quarter.
  • Pesky Joakim Noah has reemerged with the Griz after being waived from the Knicks before the season started, and he made his presence felt early by drawing a couple of loose ball fouls on the Spurs, as well as earning a technical for jawing at the refs over who knows what.
  • Pop also earned his first technical of the season, and it only took 40 games! Good to know he hasn’t gone soft on us. (On that note, can you believe we’re nearly halfway through the season already? Crazy!)
  • Patty Mills was the man of the second quarter with 12 points on 4-4 shooting (2-2 from three). He’s had his slumps lately, but free throws often seen to get him going, and that’s exactly how he started his scoring: with three attempts at the line. Overall the Spurs outscored Memphis 37-19 in the second quarter for a 64-44 halftime lead.
  • LaMarcus Aldridge had 5 assists in the first half and 7 overall. His best one came from the seat of his pants in the second quarter after he dove for a loose ball, sat up, and bounce-passed it to a driving Bryn Forbes.
  • Gay appeared to re-tweak his sprained left wrist on a steal attempt early in the third quarter. He stayed in the game, although his shot appeared to abandon him again afterwards.
  • For the first time in a while the Spurs didn’t blow out the third quarter, “only” outscoring their opponent 24-22. This quarter it was Jakob Poeltl whom the Grizzlies had no answer for. He had three-straight dunks, a driving lay-up, and a big block to lift the Spurs back up after Memphis had gotten as close as 15.
  • The Grizzlies opened the fourth quarter 14-2 run, forcing Pop to reinsert his starters. Aldridge took over on offense and scored 7-straight points, but the Grizzlies bench kept clawing their way back, getting as close as nine. However, the Spurs staved the comeback off for the win.

For the Grizzlies fans’ perspective, visit Grizzly Bear Blues.

The Spurs are hitting the road for the first time this year to take on the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Tip-off will be at at 6:00 PM CT on FSSW.

Source: Pounding The Rock

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