Spurs-Grizzlies
9:00 PM ET, April 29, 2011FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Points Rebounds Assists
SA Ginobili 21.8 Duncan 10.6 Parker 5.4
MEM Randolph 19.6 Gasol 12.2 Conley 6.8
Grizzlies forward Shane Battier says Memphis is electric, and he sees no problem with his teammates rebounding from Wednesday night's 110-103 overtime loss in San Antonio. They are trying to become the fourth No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a top seed to win a playoff series, holding a 3-2 lead going into Friday night's game.
"Ah, pressure, shmessure," Battier said. "We're playing with house money. I still contend that. We've proven we can come in here, and we've played well. So we want to win because we want to win, and we want to play well because we want to play well. Bottom line."
His teammates say they can't wait for Game 6 and would've tipped at noon Thursday if they could. Neither can their fans. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning, and the franchise notched its fastest sellout ever less than an hour.
Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said they aren't dwelling over Gary Neal's dagger of a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to force overtime or that the Spurs avoided elimination by outscoring them 13-6 in the extra period.
"We're ready to play," Conley said. "After we lost (Wednesday) night, we can't wait to get back in front of the fans and put on a show for them and get a win."
Memphis fans would welcome a series-clinching victory Friday night. Neal's shot dredged up painful memories of Mario Chalmers' three-pointer for Kansas at the end of regulation against the Tigers in the 2008 NCAA national championship game. The Tigers, Memphis' first basketball love, let a title-clinching lead dwindle away with Chalmers' three-pointer forcing OT where Kansas finished off the victory and the title.
Making it even worse those Tigers lost in San Antonio.
The Game 5 loss was so bad for Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph that he barely slept. He scored 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime but couldn't help Memphis hold on for the win. Randolph said the Grizzlies know they were supposed to have won that game but also understand Neal hit a tough shot.
Now the Grizzlies face a must-win.
"We don't want to go back" to San Antonio, Randolph said.
That might sound odd considering only eight NBA teams have ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. Then again Memphis had never even won a playoff game before this year, let alone a series.
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