Marc Gasol buzzer-beater ties Western Conference Quarterfinals

DeMar DeRozan shook off his dismal Game Three performance and scored 33 points as Toronto evened their Eastern Conference first-round series with Milwaukee at two wins apiece. “We got stops when we needed to, were aggressive when we needed to be and we kept it up for 48 minutes”. Memphis continued to score at will, but Parker helped the Spurs keep up with seven straight points, and the Spurs went on an 11-4 run to get back within one. Pau Gasol started 39 of the 64 games he played, and that would set up a brother on brother tipoff against Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.

MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard posted 43 points on 14-of-30 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three point range, along with eight rebounds, three assists and six steals in the loss for the Spurs. Conley did the heavy lifting for Memphis, scoring 35 points and finished a rebound and two assists shy of a triple-double. During the overtime, both teams wrestled for the lead and we witnessed clutch shooting on both sides. In addition, he kicked in 8 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists.

The Grizzlies have made a huge turnaround in a short time after falling behind 2-0.

“I learned a long time ago if you don’t have mental stability when they punch you in the mouth, you’re in the wrong business”, Fizdale said.

The Spurs now are 16-16 in Game 4s after being up 2-1 in a series, including losing seven of their last eight such games.

The audio made this even more awesome: the sound of Aldridge destroying the rim was in flawless harmony with the whistle for the foul.

Date/Time: Tuesday April 25th, 2017.

Before Gasol’s heroics, Leonard and Mike Conley were seemingly playing their own game of one-on-one. “Otherwise we were going to get pummeled and I was just really proud of how the way we stepped up and took the challenge”. The Spurs did win during Leonard’s on-court time (and convincingly, by 18 points), but the periods he sat were bad as they became over reliant on his magic. Aldridge at least contributed with 13 points. He was spectacular in the gut-wrenching loss, scoring the Spurs’ last 16 points in regulation. “We’ve got to do a better job defensively”. Ginobili is 0 of 15 from the floor in this series. Spurs C Dewayne Dedmon missed Game 4 with an illness.

If Indiana had won, Game 5 of the Spurs-Grizzlies series would have tipped off at 7. That brings up the Grizzlies to a 43-43 ATS record, and 41-42-3 O/U record. “Coming home was a comfort zone for the young guys”. Leonard definitely does “bleed antifreeze” like Grizzlies coach says he does.

The Blazers led by as many as 17 points in the first half but couldn’t hold off the Warriors, who can clinch the series with a win Monday night in Game 4 at the Moda Center.

The fourth quarter would be the quarter the Spurs would shine.

Beal, in particular, had a miserable night after averaging 26.5 points in the first two games.

Memphis was turnover-prone during much of the game but secured the ball when it really mattered.