08-08-2019, 12:40 AM
PHOENIX - The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the playoffs and the upstart Phoenix Suns are staying home. Mike Conley and Zach Randolph made the critical plays in the final 68 seconds and the Grizzlies pulled out a 97-91 victory over Phoenix that clinched the last playoff spot in the West and eliminated the Suns from post-season competition. Randolph scored 32 points to lead the inside power game that was just enough for Memphis to beat the Suns for the fourth time in four games this season. There were 15 lead changes in an intense fourth quarter, with Memphis scoring the final seven after Phoenix took a 91-90 lead on Miles Plumlees tip-in with 1:27 to play. Conley, taking a pass from Randolph, followed with a 3-pointer that put the Grizzlies up 93-91 with 1:08 to go. It was the first go-ahead 3 of Conleys career with two minutes or less remaining in a game. Dragic threw the ball away on Phoenixs next possession and Randolph scored the final two of his 32 points to give Memphis a 95-91 cushion with 47.4 seconds to go. "Its stressful, being in a game that both teams are going back and forth," Conley said. "Every time we made a play, they made a play. Give them credit, they played their hearts out. We were just able to make enough plays down the stretch." Memphis weathered 19 turnovers to win its fourth straight, a streak that began with a win over Miami. "Weve needed every game basically since February it seems like," Conley said. "Weve played every game like a playoff game. Its been fun to be part of a group that comes in and stays focused and to get back in the playoffs. Its huge from where we started off this season." The Grizzlies were 10-15 after a loss to Dallas on Dec. 18. "This is a culmination of not just this week or not just March or April, this is a culmination of everything weve been through since December," first-year Memphis coach David Joerger said. "For these guys, its a happy locker room, a relieved locker room and just a bunch of very proud guys with great chemistry." Mike Miller added 21 points, Marc Gasol 17 and Conley 13 for the Grizzlies, in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Markieff Morris had 21 points, and Channing Frye scored 14. So did Dragic, playing on a sore ankle. The Grizzlies can move ahead of Dallas for the No. 7 spot with a victory at home over the Mavericks in their regular-season finale Wednesday night. The Suns lost their third straight to come up just short of the playoffs in a remarkable turnaround season under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, winning 22 more games than a year ago, with one to play, after going 25-57 in 2013. "Its really tough to say something positive right now," Dragic said. "Nobody expected us to play so good. We built some good chemistry with this team. A lot of new faces, a lot of young guys, new coaching staff, new GM, so I think were headed in the right direction. "When you are so close to the playoffs, you always want some little bit more." Phoenix is only the fifth team in NBA history to win 47 games and not make the playoffs. "These are the hardest games to win," Hornacek said, recalling his days as a player. "You have to do everything right. You cant have bad stretches." The last of Millers five 3-pointers — in six attempts — put the Grizzlies 86-85 with 3:10 to go. Miles Plumlee made a 16-footer and Phoenix led 87-86, then Gasol scored on a driving layup and Memphis was on top 88-87 with 2:23 left. Bledsoes 15-footer gave the lead back to Phoenix, then Conley sank a 20-footer, a hint of what was about to come, to make it 90-89 Memphis. Then came Plumlees tip-in and Phoenixs final lead. An early 15-4 run put the Grizzlies up 22-11 and it was 24-14 at the end of the first quarter. Memphis took its biggest lead, 44-31, when Randolph converted a three-point play with 2:54 to play in the second quarter. But the Grizzlies didnt score again in the half. Bledsoe ended the Suns string of eight straight missed 3-pointers and Phoenix scored the final nine points of the half to cut it to 46-42 at the beak. It could have been closer. Bledsoe missed a free throw what could have been a 3-point play and, after a Memphis turnover, P.J. Tucker took an off-balance shot before the halftime buzzer when Bledsoe was wide open for a layup. The Suns run continued in the third quarter, when Phoenix outscored Memphis 11-4 to start the period and took a 53-50 lead on Channing Fryes 16-foooter. Nobody led by more than six points the rest of the quarter, with Tony Allen going coast-to-coast in the final seconds for a layup that tied it at 67 entering the fourth. NOTES: The Suns havent made the playoffs since 2010. ... The Suns conclude their season at Sacramento on Wednesday night. ... Of Memphis potential first-round foes, the Grizzles were 0-4 this season against San Antonio, 1-2 against Oklahoma City. Ronnie Lott Womens Jersey . - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dwight Clark Youth Jersey . Huntington doesnt want to help run the club unless Hurdle is in the dugout. The combination thats returned the franchise to respectability will remain intact for years to come. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Mi...ky-Jersey/. -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. Joe Montana Womens Jersey . The game was the first of two international friendlies that Canada is playing during the international break, with the second game against Slovenia set for Tuesday in Celje. Canada looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the game, and every free kick that came into Canadas penalty box looked like ending up in the back of the net. Steve Young 49ers Jersey . Saltalamacchia drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Henderson Alvarez won for the first time in three starts and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-2 on Thursday night.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The old offensive line coach in Andy Reid could appreciate the way the Kansas City Chiefs pried open holes for Jamaal Charles to run free against Seattle on Sunday.He could appreciate the way their defensive front stepped up, too.Given a lead thanks largely to the legs of their dazzling running back, the Chiefs held the Seahawks on fourth down three times in the final quarter. The result was a tense 24-20 victory that pushed Kansas City into a first-place tie with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.Were sitting there with three fourth-down plays late in the game, Reid said, and they stepped up and did a phenomenal job there getting off the field.As for Charles, who finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns?Hes Jamaal Charles, Reid said. Hes a special player.Russell Wilson threw for 178 yards and two TDs for the Seahawks, and Marshawn Lynch had 124 yards rushing. But Lynch, fresh off a four-touchdown game, was stuffed twice by the Kansas City defence with the outcome hanging in the balance.The Seahawks last-chance drive ended when Wilson threw incomplete on fourth-and-18 at their 20-yard line with 1:13 left.They had a great defence, Wilson said. They just made a great play.The Chiefs first fourth-down stop came with about 6 minutes to go. Lynch was tackled after a 2-yard gain on third down, and coach Pete Carroll elected to gamble at the Chiefs 2. Wilson saw Doug Baldwin in the corner of the end zone but badly overthrew him.Seattle (6-4) held to get the ball back and appeared to convert a third down with a completion at the Chiefs 35. Reid wisely challenged the spot, though, and replays showed wide receiver Jermaine Kearse was a full yard short. The Seahawks again went for it, and Lynch was stuffed for no gain with less than 4 minutes to go.By the time the Seahawks got the ball back one last time, they were pinned so deep in their own territory with such little time on the clock that it hardly mattered.Lynch left without speaking to reporters.Every game weve lost this season it seems like its come down to the last play, whether its defencee or offence, Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett said.dddddddddddd. Thats the name of the game.It made sense the two playoff contenders would wage an old-school, back-and-forth affair. Both are built in the same mould, featuring stout defences and strong running games.Kansas City struck first with a relentless 15-play drive that took up more than 9 minutes of the first half and ended with Charles 1-yard touchdown run. Seattle answered with its own 16-play drive, chewing up exactly 9 minutes and ending with Wilsons TD pass to Baldwin.Nothing really changed the rest of the half.Charles broke two long runs on the Chiefs next possession, including a 16-yard touchdown. Lynch came back with a punishing series of carries to help set up a field goal.The Chiefs overcame two fumbles that led to Seattle scores. Travis Kelce lost the ball near midfield late in the first half, and the Seahawks capitalized with a field goal.Then Charles was fighting for extra yardage again near midfield in the third quarter when he was stripped of the ball.I was doing too much, Charles said. I just lost it as I was going down.Five plays later, Wilson hit tight end Tony Moeaki — who spent most of his first four injury-plagued seasons with Kansas City — with a short touchdown toss for a 20-17 lead.Once again turning to Charles, the Chiefs answered. The elusive running back put a nifty juke on Earl Thomas and scampered 47 yards before getting pushed out of bounds. Gassed, Charles watched as Knile Davis capped the drive to give the Chiefs a 24-20 lead.Then he watched his defence make it stick.It was a heartbreaking loss, Wilson said. We thought we could have or should have won it.Notes: Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette was ejected in the second half for throwing a right hook at Chiefs CB Kurt Coleman. ... Seattle C Max Unger was carted off with a high ankle sprain and twisted knee midway through the fourth quarter. Patrick Lewis finished in his place. ... Charles had not run for 100 yards in any game this season.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '