Zach Randolph scored 32 points and Mike Miller added 21, both season-highs, as the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the final Western Conference playoff berth while eliminating the Phoenix Suns from post-season play, 97-91 on Monday.
Spaniard Marc Gasol netted 17 and Mike Conley had 13 for the Grizzlies, who are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
The Grizzlies trailed 91-90 on Mason Plumlee’s tip-in with 1 minute 27 seconds to play but closed on a 6-0 run. Conley buried a 3-pointer to put Memphis ahead 93-91 with 1:08 remaining. Suns’ Goran Dragic then got caught in the air and had his ill-advised pass picked off by Randolph for a layup with 47 ticks left.
Dragic then air-balled 3-point attempt from the left corner with 25.9 seconds to play that would pulled the Suns within one.
Conley had a shot to ice the win but the 83 per cent free throw shooter missed three-of-four tosses on two separate trips to the stripe. But the Suns couldn’t capitalize, and Gasol knocked down a pair of free throws and the Grizzlies punched their tickets to the post-season.
“We’re excited, we made the playoffs and we’re healthy,” Miller said. “The best thing about the playoffs is we have a fresh start now. We’re going into the playoffs with an open mind now and see how we do.” The eighth-seeds are likely to have a first-round date this weekend with top seed and defending Western Conference Champions San Antonio.
Morris scored 21 points, while Channing Frye and Dragic had 14 apiece for the Suns, who won 47 games but failed to make the playoffs.
Other Results
Washington Wizards 114 - 93 Miami Heat
Houston Rockets 104 – 98 San Antonio Spurs
New Orleans Hornets 101 - 89 Oklahoma City Thunder
Golden State Warriors 130 - 120 Minnesota Timberwolves
Charlotte Bobcats 95 – 93 Atlanta Hawks
Toronto Raptors 110 – 100 Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls 108 – 95 Orlando Magic
LA Lakers 119 - 104 Utah Jazz
Philadelphia 76ers 113 - 108 Boston Celtics
