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Grizzlies seal stunning upset by eliminating Spurs

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-30 16:23

MEMPHIS - The Memphis Grizzlies sealed a stunning upset of top-ranked San Antonio in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Friday, beating the Spurs 99-91 to clinch their series 4-2 at the FedEx Forum on Friday.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (R) shoots as San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tennessee April 29, 2011.  [Photo/Agencies]

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"I'm pleased with where we are, but not satisfied from the perspective that we have an opportunity to do something really special," said Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins.

"Not a lot of people knew about us coming in, but we certainly have made some noise and turned some heads and gotten some attention that probably wouldn't have been given to us if we had lost this series.

"We would have just been another No 8 seed losing to the No 1 seed. But I'm pleased with the way it turned out."

San Antonio scored the first points of the game but a 12-0 run by Memphis forced the Spurs to chase the Grizzlies for much of the encounter.

Despite trailing by as many as 12, San Antonio managed to grab the lead briefly at 80-79 with 4:39 remaining in the fourth quarter on a jump shot by Antonio McDyess.

However, they were unable to contain Zach Randolph down the stretch.

Randolph scored 17 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter. He also had 11 rebounds while Marc Gasol had a double-double with 13 rebounds and 12 points.

"I couldn't have played any better D (defense)," said McDyess who covered Randolph.

"I keep running it back in my head and I don't think I could have done different. He hit some really freaking tough shots. I didn't think there was any way they could go in and I'd look up and he'd made them.

"To see that happen, when you had ground and played as tough a defense as you could, it hurts. At the same time, if he's going to make those types of shots with the type of defense I played, you have to accept it."

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points, and Manu Ginobili scored 16.