Gasol’s last-second basket lifts Grizzlies past Warriors

Oakland, CA (Basketball News) - Pau Gasol sprang for 23 points and scored the winning bucket at the buzzer as the Memphis Grizzlies edged Golden State, 81-79, at The Arena in Oakland.

Gasol added 13 rebounds and six assists for Memphis, which has won back-to- back games for the first time since January 10 and 13. Bobby Jackson, Eddie Jones and Chucky Atkins all netted 10 in the win.

Derek Fisher paced Golden State with 21 points and nine assists while Mike Dunleavy had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors, who have dropped three of four.

Golden State was playing without Baron Davis and Troy Murphy, both of whom are nursing ankle injuries.

Also, forward-center Andris Biedrins got into a car accident on his way to the game and missed the contest with a stiff neck.

"You feel bad about the loss, but you can’t always come out on top," Dunleavy said.

Golden State owned a five-point lead in the latter stages of the game but went six-plus minutes down the stretch without a field goal, allowing Memphis to pull ahead. After a few Grizzlies free throws brought them within striking distance, Jones hit a three-ball with about two minutes left to go up, 74-73.

Fisher responded with a pair of field goals that sandwiched a Jackson three and tied the game at 77-77 in the final minute.

With Memphis holding possession and time running down after an offensive rebound, Mickael Pietrus intentionally fouled Atkins, much to the dismay of his teammates. Atkins hit both ensuing free throws with seven ticks on the clock to put the Grizzlies up by two.

Fisher raced into the lane at the other end and hit a layup with 3.9 seconds left that tied it at 79-79.

After a timeout that set Memphis at halfcourt, Gasol got the ball, moved into the lane, executed a spin move and then drained a one-handed shot over a pair of defenders at the buzzer to give the Grizzlies the win.

"That was the play we wanted to run. I took it hard to the rim and I knew I had enough time to make a move," Gasol said.

Golden State trailed by as many as 12 in the first half but used a 14-3 run that bridged the second and third quarters to pull within one, 47-46, after Fisher converted a fastbreak layup.

The transition game continued to be the catalyst in the third stanza, as Dunleavy and Ike Diogu both scored on breaks to cap a surge that put the Warriors ahead 65-56 with about a minute left.

Golden State outscored Memphis 25-11 during the third and headed into the final frame up 65-58.

The Grizzlies scored the first seven points of the fourth, however, to tie it at 65-65 following Jones’ jumper.

However, after the two teams exchanged field goals, Dunleavy drained a three- pointer and Zarko Cabarkapa nailed a turnaround hook shot to make it a five- point contest with 7:45 left.

Memphis led 47-40 at halftime.

Game Notes

Memphis’ Mike Miller (ankle) and Brian Cardinal (flu) missed Monday’s game...Golden State has dropped 10 of its last 13 to Memphis...The Grizzlies finished their six-game road trip at 2-4...Memphis shot 37.5 percent from the floor, while Golden State shot 37.8 percent.