Published - NBA: Grizzlies shock top-seeded Spurs

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MEMPHIS (UPDATE) – Zach Randolph finished with 31 points and 11 boards as the Memphis Grizzlies advanced to their first NBA quarter-finals by eliminating top-seeded San Antonio Spurs 99-91.

“I felt that I could take over the game,” Randolph said on Friday. “I wanted to get the ball in my hands get to the paint and take my shots.”

In victory the Grizzlies became just the second eighth seed to upset a top seed since the NBA expanded the first round series to a best-of-seven.

Memphis knocked out the Spurs in six games and now face Oklahoma City in the next round.

“We are a good team,” Randolph said. “People don’t get to see us a lot. But we got young players who like to play and so we are a team to be reckoned with.”

It marked the first playoff series win in franchise history for the Grizzlies who went 0-12 in their first three playoff appearances.

“This is a blue collar town I am a blue collar player so this is a good fit for me,” Randolph said.

Marc Gasol finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Tony Allen chipped in with 11 points and Greivis Vasquez had 11 off the bench in the win.

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins hailed his unheralded side.

“Not a lot of people knew about us coming in, but we certainly have made some noise and turned some heads and got some attention that probably wouldn’t have been given to us if we’d lost this series,” Hollins said.

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