Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (second left) attempts to tip the ball away from Detroit Pistons’ Brandon Jennings. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sport
DPA/Los Angeles
With the NBA playoffs starting this weekend, the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t want to be caught behind the eight ball. Mike Conley made two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in overtime on Wednesday night, and the Grizzlies jumped past Dallas for the West No. 7 seed after a thrilling 106-105 win over the Mavericks in the regular-season finale.
Memphis will travel to meet league scoring champion Kevin Durant and the No 2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow, rather than a match-up against the No 1 seed San Antonio Spurs, winners of eight straight in the series.
“We wanted this game,” said Conley, who finished with 22 points. “I don’t think anybody wants to play the Spurs the way they’re playing. Oklahoma is a tough team too. We have to go in there and play the best ball we can.”
Trailing by one, Conley grabbed a Monta Ellis miss with seven seconds left, plowed through four defenders to draw a foul and sank both tosses. Ellis took the pass out of timeout with 1.1 ticks remaining and launched his wide-open jumper that bounced off the rim at the buzzer, as the Grizzlies exhaled for their franchise-record 14th consecutive home-court victory. “It felt good, but it didn’t go down,” Ellis said. “I think we did a great job. It went down to the wire, and they won.”
Zach Randolph collected 27 points and 14 rebounds while Spaniard Marc Gasol added 19 with nine board and nine assists in the Grizzlies’ 50th win of the season. “Playing Grizzlies’ basketball going into the postseason was key, and we wanted to try to keep that momentum going,” said Memphis guard Tony Allen.
German star Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 30 points while Ellis finished with 18, including seven in overtime. The No. 8 seed Mavs will open Sunday against the Spurs, who have taken nine straight in the series.
LA Lakers 113, Spurs 100
Jordan Hill had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and the lowly Lakers ended their worst season (27-55) with a road win over the Spurs.
Thunder 112, Detroit Pistons 111
Kevin Durant fired in 21 of his 42 points in the final quarter, and the Thunder wrapped up the West No 2 playoff seed after storming past the Pistons despite Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s career-high 30 points.
Pacers 101, Orlando Magic 86
Rasual Butler and Chris Copeland netted 19 points apiece, as the East top seed Pacers beat the hosting Magic despite resting three starters in preparation for Sunday’s opening clash against the No. 8 Atlanta Hawks.
Hawks 111, Milwaukee Bucks 103
Mike Scott scored 17 points and the visiting Hawks beat the league-worst Bucks, who got 31 from Brandon Knight.
76ers 100, Miami Heat 87
Thaddeus Young scored 20 points and the hosting Sixers beat the No 2 seed Heat, who rested LeBron James and Chris Bosh for Sunday’s home-opener against No 7 Charlotte.
Bobcats 91, Chicago Bulls 86 (OT)
Kemba Walker scored eight of his 22 points in overtime, Al Jefferson grabbed 18 rebounds and the Bobcats beat the visiting Bulls, who host the Washington Wizards this weekend in an East Nos. 4 and 5 seed match-up.
Wizards 118, Boston Celtics 102
Bradley Beal scored 27 points, and the visiting Wizards clinched the East No 5 playoff spot after bouncing the Celtics.
Cavaliers 114, Brooklyn Nets 85
Tyler Zeller had 22 points with 11 boards and the Cleveland Cavaliers clipped the East No 6 seed Brooklyn Nets, who rested seven core players in preparation for a weekend showdown against No 3 Toronto.
New York Knicks 95, Raptors 92
J R Smith scored 30 points and the hosting Knicks rallied from 21 down to beat the Raptors, the East No 3 playoff seed.
Pelicans 105, Houston Rockets 100
Tyreke Evans had 25 points with 10 assists, as the Pelicans slipped past the West No 4 playoff seed Rockets, who rested James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin in preparation for Sunday’s home-opener against No 5 Portland.
Trail Blazers 110, LA Clippers 104
Will Barton had a career-high 23 points with 10 rebounds, and the Trail Blazers beat the visiting Clippers, who rested All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Jamal Crawford had 34 points for the West No 3 seed Clippers, who open Saturday at home against No 6 Golden State.
Warriors 116, Denver Nuggets 112
Jordan Crawford erupted for a career-high 41 points, Harrison Barnes added 30 and the West No 6 seed Warriors dropped the lottery-bound Nuggets.
In games without any playoff implications: the Utah Jazz topped the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 136-130 in double overtime; and the Phoenix Suns shaded the Sacramento Kings 104-99.
