Video: Grizzlies outlast Spurs in wild, three-overtime game in San Antonio
The Grizzlies needed three overtime periods to beat the Spurs in a wild 117-116 game Wednesday night in San Antonio. The Grizzlies' sixth straight victory featured several game-swinging shots from both teams in the NBA's most exciting contest this season.
With San Antonio clinging to a one-point lead late in the second overtime, Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee hit a three-pointer from the right corner that gave Memphis a 111-109 lead with two seconds left.
Not to be outdone, Spurs center Tim Duncan answered with a step-back, contested jumper from close to the three-point line that banked off the backboard and rolled around the rim before dropping in at the buzzer.
The Grizzlies went up 117-113 in the third extra period, but the Spurs' Danny Green hit a three to cut the deficit to one. After an empty Memphis possession, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili took a contested three-pointer for the win but didn't come close. The Grizzlies grabbed the rebound to secure the win.
There was a dramatic finish at the end of regulation as well, with the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol serving as an unlikely hero after a Green three-pointer gave the Spurs a 92-89 lead with 2.5 seconds left.
The Grizzlies inbounded the ball to Gasol at the top of the key. He then dribbled several feet farther away from the basket. With the Spurs' Ginobili looking to avoid a foul, Gasol gathered himself, pivoted, stepped through Ginobli's defense and launched a leaning three-pointer that banked in with no time remaining.
The shot was Gasol's first made three-pointer of the season in just four attempts and just the eighth three-pointer he's made in his seven-year career. The game was reminiscent of the teams' hard-fought matchups in their first-round playoff series in 2011, when the eighth-seeded Grizzlies upset San Antonio in six games.
Gasol finished with 26 points to lead all scorers, while teammate Zach Randolph had 21 points and 21 rebounds. Green led the Spurs with 23 points, and Duncan added 23 points and 16 rebounds.
The Grizzlies were coming off a win on Tuesday that ended the Warrior's 16-game winning streak. Memphis improved to 21-4. San Antonio fell to 17-9.
