Associated Press
Even as the Memphis Grizzlies transition into a small-ball style team, they realise defence is still the key to their success.
Memphis forced the Indiana Pacers into 17 turnovers and 39 per cent shooting in a 96-84 victory over in the NBA on Saturday night.
“I thought defensively, we were much more consistent, as we are supposed to be,” said centre Marc Gasol, who had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Memphis. “We’re still not going to score 125 points a game, that I’m pretty sure of. Defensively, we need to do the things we’re supposed to do.”
Matt Barnes finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Mike Conley added 20 points and eight assists as the Grizzlies snapped a two-game skid. Mario Chalmers had 12 points for Memphis and Jeff Green added 11.
“Guys are going to get used to it,” Conley said of the offensive transition that began five games ago. “We have enough talent in this locker room to win regardless of how we are playing – slowing the ball down or running in transition.”
Paul George led the Pacers with 29 points, despite going 8-of-22 from the field. Monta Ellis scored 13 points and Rodney Stuckey had 11. Jordan Hill finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The loss snapped Indiana’s three-game winning streak, and the 84 points were well under the Pacers’ average of 103.8 points, best in the Eastern Conference.
Memphis shot 45 per cent. Neither team shot well from outside the arc, Memphis converting 5-of-19, while the Pacers were 5-of-28 for 18 per cent – a season-low for Indiana on three-point percentage.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “We didn’t play well enough in any area. We didn’t defend well enough, we didn’t run well enough, we didn’t cover for each other on the defensive end well enough.”
Memphis pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Indiana 26-18 as the Pacers converted only 5-of-15 shots in the period.
The Grizzlies, who at times have struggled in the third quarter, extended their 44-43 half-time lead to double digits this time. The advantage reached 12 points as Memphis connected on 50 per cent of their shots through the bulk of the quarter.
But Indiana put together a 14-4 rally to pull to 66-64 before Memphis managed to carry a 70-66 lead into the final period.
Memphis would build the lead back to double digits near the midway point of the fourth. The Pacers converted five straight free throws – four of them by George – to move closer at 88-80 - but could not cut the lead further.
“We had a lot of good open shots that just weren’t falling,” Ellis said. “I think it was more that our shots weren’t falling, and they made some plays.”
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
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Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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