The AP reports: Andrei Kirilenko returned from an ankle injury to spark a key fourth-quarter run and help the Utah Jazz beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-99 Tuesday night. C.J. Miles scored 24 points and Deron Williams had 20 points and 15 assists… Despite his third straight double-double, Williams’ five-game streak of brilliant shooting came to an end. Williams was the first guard since Michael Jordan in November 1996 to score more than 30 points on better than 50 percent shooting for five consecutive games. He shot 7-of-18 against Memphis.
Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog
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NBA to borrow $175 million
The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Loan me three fiddy. I want some ribs.
Grizzlies assign Hamed Haddadi to D-League
For the second time this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have assigned center Hamed Haddadi to the NBA Development League’s Dakota Wizards, the club’s D-League affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
Haddadi will return to Dakota after posting 6.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.55 blocks in 17.7 minutes in 11 games (seven starts) after being assigned to the Wizards on Nov. 24. Memphis recalled the 7-2, 280-pound center on Dec. 24.
The Ahvaz, Iran native recorded two points and one rebound in four minutes in his NBA debut on Dec. 30 vs. Phoenix, becoming the first Iranian-born player to appear in an NBA game. Haddadi has averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 3.5 minutes through four games in his rookie season.
Andre miller huge, 76ers beat Grizzlies 91-87
The AP reports: Andre Iguodala scored 18 points and made the winning basket with 26 seconds left, lifting the Philadelphia 76ers to their fourth straight win, 91-87 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night… Hakim Warrick, who tied a career high with 31 points for the Grizzlies, missed a dunk and Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert sealed the win from the free throw line… Andre Miller had 24 points and Young scored 12 for the Sixers. O.J. Mayo finished with 16 points and Mike Conley had 13 for the Grizzlies. Mayo helped rally the Grizzlies from a 12-point hole and nailed a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left that tied the score at 87.
JR Smith replaces Rudy Gay in dunk contest
Denver Nuggets G J.R. Smith has been chosen to replace the injured Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Ariz. on Feb. 14, the league announced today.
Smith, in his third season with Denver, is averaging career-highs of 13.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.7 apg in a career-best 27.7 minutes per contest through 50 games this season.
The Nuggets’ high-flyer will be making his second appearance in the annual Slam Dunk Contest. As a member of the New Orleans Hornets, he finished third in the 2005 Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. Smith will become the fifth Nuggets player to appear in an official NBA Slam Dunk Contest, joining Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (sixth place in 1993), Robert Pack (second in 1994), Darvin Ham (fourth in 1997) and Chris Andersen (third in 2004).
Mayo leads Grizzlies past short-handed Hornets 85-80
The AP reports: O.J. Mayo had 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Mike Conley scored 18 and handed out eight assists to lead the Grizzlies to an 85-80 victory Monday night… Hakim Warrick had 15 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, while Marc Gasol added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, which has won two straight and four of its last five. Peja Stojakovic scored 23 points to lead the Hornets, who were without their top three players in Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler and David West. Paul and Chandler were out with injuries, while West was suspended for the game after his flagrant foul against Minnesota’s Mike Miller on Sunday.
Conley steps up, Grizzlies beat Raptors 78-70
The AP reports: O.J. Mayo scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth period, including nine straight, and the Grizzlies held on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 78-70 on Saturday night. Mayo’s 3-pointer with 25.7 seconds left was costly for the Raptors, who had erased a 13-point lead in the second half and lost their sixth straight. Mayo had struggled from the field through the first three quarters, missing nine of his 11 shots. He saved the best for the stretch… “We were wide open for shots,” said Raptors guard Jose Calderon, who led Toronto with 18 points and five assists, but was 5-of-15 from the field… Hakim Warrick matched Mayo’s 16 points and both grabbed eight rebounds. Mike Conley scored 15 points and handed out eight assists.
Grizzlies add Damon Stoudamire, Henry Bibby as assistant coaches
The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Ronald Tillery) reports: Henry Bibby and former NBA point guard Damon Stoudamire have officially joined Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins’ staff as assistant coaches. They are expected to be on the bench tonight when the Griz host the Los Angeles Clippers.
InsideHoops.com editor says: The Grizzlies should now immediately inform Damon Stoudamire the team has decided to move back to Vancouver.
Mayo scores 32, Grizzlies beat Rockets 104-93
The AP reports: O.J. Mayo scored 32 points and the Grizzlies held off the Houston Rockets 104-93 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory. The Rockets closed to 97-93 with just over 4 minutes remaining, but Mayo scored on a drive and hit a 3-pointer, and Memphis held on… Rudy Gay had 18 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, and Hakim Warrick finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 from the floor and had eight rebounds. Marc Gasol and Conley had 10 points apiece, and Conley also had nine rebounds and seven assists. Gasol recorded five blocks… Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 21 points. Rafer Alston added 15 points and six assists.
Mayo scores 33, Grizzlies beat Wizards 113-97
The AP reports: Memphis Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo had done more scoring than losing at every level of play until he reached the NBA. On Monday night, he used his ability to score to help the Grizzlies end a 12-game losing skid, matching his career high with 33 points in a 113-97 win over the Washington Wizards… Rudy Gay scored 23 and Marc Gasol added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, which ended the team’s longest drought since dropping 13 in a row to start the 2002-03 season. The Grizzlies had not won since beating Dallas 102-82 Jan. 4… Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Caron Butler scored 21 for Washington, which failed to record its second two-game winning streak of the season.