Grizzlies outlast Spurs in triple overtime

By foxsports
Published

SAN ANTONIO -- Marc Gasol scored 26 points, including a banked-in 3-pointer as regulation expired, and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame blowing a 23-point lead for a 117-116 triple-overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

Zach Randolph had 21 points and 21 rebounds in the Grizzlies' sixth straight victory. Vince Carter added a season-high 18 points for Memphis (21-4).

Danny Green scored 25 points, and Tim Duncan had 23 points and 16 rebounds for San Antonio. His jumper rattled in to force the third OT, but he finished just 5 for 15 on free throws.

Manu Ginobili added 21 points, but shot an airball on a 3-pointer in the final seconds for the Spurs. San Antonio made a season-high 17 3-pointers but was 13 for 27 on free throws, including 5 for 15 by Duncan.

Duncan hit a fallaway, high-arcing jumper that bounded on the rim three times before dropping in to tie the game at 111 at the close of the second overtime.

The shot was part of an eventful final minute in regulation and the first two overtimes.

After Green's fifth 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 92-89 lead with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation, Gasol banked in a 30-footer against Ginobili as time expired.

Green tumbled to the floor and injured his knee while colliding in midair with Mike Conley on an outlet pass, giving Memphis a 5-on-4 situation that resulted in Gasol's layup that tied the game at 102 with 9.3 seconds left. Ginobili missed a 7-foot running jumper to end the first OT.

Conley's 3-pointer gave Memphis a 111-109 lead with 2.6 seconds left in the second overtime before Duncan's shot that finally fell in.

The Grizzlies were fresh off snapping Golden State's 16-game winning streak Tuesday night, but they were fresher early than the rested Spurs, who played without injured starters Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard.

San Antonio gave up a season-high 34 points in the first quarter as Memphis shot 14 for 20 (70 percent), almost exclusively on jumpers.

The Spurs were 5 for 10 on 3-pointers in the third quarter in trimming what had been a 23-point, first-half deficit to 71-68.