THE San Antonio Spurs were able to end their losing streak after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Spurs were on a four-game losing streak before they routed the Memphis Grizzlies with a close score of 108-107. This was all thanks to their all-star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge’s performance.
Aldridge posted 22 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists. This was backed-up by five other Spurs players who scored in double digits.
For the Grizzlies, it was led by the gutsy performance of their guard Avery Bradley who scored 33 points, with 6 boards and assists. Their newly-acquired center Jonas Valanciunas posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 boards. Valanciunas was traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Grizzlies in a deal that sent center Marc Gasol to the Raptors.
During the first quarter, the Grizzlies were dominant against the Spurs ending the first quarter with 33-20 in favor of the Grizzlies. Grizzlies guard Avery Bradley contributed 17 of his 33 points in this quarter.
However, the Grizzlies lead was slowly erased by the Spurs in the second quarter to a sharpshooting display by the team. The Grizzlies were only able to hold their lead to one point, ending the quarter with the score of 58-57 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Spurs continued their rally shooting a total of 13-21 from the three-point line for the three quarters. According to Aldridge, the key to him scoring one on ones is through his teammates’ ability to stretch the floor and knock down open three pointers.
“When they are knocking down shots like that, it gives me space to play one-on-one on the block, and I can get to my moves,” he said.
In the last 12 minutes, both teams were still determined to win. With 4 minutes left in the game, Grizzlies guard Bradley knocked down a jumper to keep the Grizzlies in front with the score of 102-101.
Afterwards, Aldridge scored successive buckets including a tip-in, an 8-footer jumper, and a hook shot to take the lead for San Antonio.
With 51.1 seconds left, Aldridge banks a pair of free throws to give the Spurs the lead of 108-106. During the stretch, Memphis rookie forward, Jarett Jackson Jr. was sent to the free throw line to tie the game.
However, he missed the first and accidentally banked in the second that allowed the Spurs to run the clock, having the final score of 108-107.
After the game, head coach of the Grizzlies, J.B. Bickerstaff, told his 19-year-old rookie that he needed to experience this loss to learn moving forward.
“This is part of his growth. He's a rookie, and it's going to take him some time and some experience. But you have to go through these situations to get better,” he said.
The Spurs improve their record to 33-26 in the Western Conference and the Grizzlies post their record of 23-35 in the season. (Jayvee Gulfan, USC intern)