By Ron Wynn
The Denver Nuggets snapped the Memphis Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak Friday night, beating them 87-80 with a big fourth-quarter comeback. Memphis led 66-58 after three quarters, but were outscored 29-14 in the fourth.
The loss put the Grizzlies in a tie for third with the Los Angeles Clippers, while Denver is only one and a half games behind both of them. Denver won its 11th in a row and 15th straight at home. They are 30-3 on their own court this season.
A 17-4 surge erased the Grizzlies’ lead, with a Danilo Gallinari three-pointer putting Denver ahead for good. Gallinairi had 15 points, but it was center Kosa Koufus who had a career night. He scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, a personal best.
Zac Randolph matched Koufus’ totals, but was in foul trouble in the closing minutes. Mike Conley and Tayshun Prince had 11 each.
The Grizzlies seemed to have put the game away with a big third quarter advantage. They had slowed down the pace, cutting off the NBA’s top fast break team and maintaining a slower style that also saw them getting the ball inside to Randolph and Marc Gasol.
But during the fourth, they suffered more turnovers and began getting called for loose ball fouls on rebounding scuffles. Randolph had a tough defensive matchup against Gallinari, who scored most of his points in the second half and made two critical baskets in the final five minutes.
The Nuggets’ current streak is their best in 30 years. The Grizzlies headed to Utah, where they face the Jazz Saturday night, then return to Memphis for Monday night game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Photo By: US Presswire