|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – The regular season is
slipping away from the Portland Trail Blazers.
|  | | Vancouver's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, right, struggles to hang on as Scottie Pippen challenges. |
Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 15 points as Vancouver beat Portland
95-85 Friday night, the Grizzlies' second victory over the Trail
Blazers in four days.
The Grizzlies, who defeated the Trail Blazers 105-97 Tuesday in
Portland, dealt Portland its third straight loss.
The win was Vancouver's fifth in 11 games against Portland at GM
Place.
"One step forward, three steps back," Portland guard Damon
Stoudamire said. "We shouldn't have to be finding out about
ourselves in game 63 of the season, trying to find an identity. But
that's where we are."
Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy looked down the deepest bench in the
league and couldn't find a player capable of providing a spark.
Bonzi Wells scored 24 points for Portland.
The Grizzlies' bench, one of the weakest in the league,
outscored the Blazers' reserves 40-24.
"It's disturbing," Dunleavy said. "Our teams have always
responded in a real positive manner. I'm not even saying having
lost two games you're going to win them all. I'm used to getting an
unbelievable effort out of my guys. I didn't see the effort. I
didn't see emotion."
The Grizzlies, whose win over the Blazers was the first March
road win in franchise history, outscored Portland 23-15 in the
final period.
Trail Blazers veterans Scottie Pippen and Rasheed Wallace
collectively scored four points in 20 combined minutes down the
stretch.
Wallace, who had been ejected in each of the Blazers' two
previous losses, stayed in the game and played 39 minutes, picking
up just one foul. Pippen had six turnovers and 11 points.
Vancouver, which entered the game ranked 27th in the league in
shooting, hit 48 percent of its shots in the first half and built a
45-43 lead by halftime.
The Grizzlies used a three-guard offense to stay with the
Blazers, who had a 25-17 rebounding advantage in the first half.
Both teams shot 50 percent in the third quarter as the Grizzlies
moved out to a 72-70 lead heading into the fourth.
The Grizzlies built their lead to 90-83 with 3:27 to go, and the
Blazers were unable to make a late run.
Abdur-Rahim was one of five Vancouver players in double figures.
Rookie Stromile Swift finished with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting,
with seven rebounds in 25 minutes for Vancouver. Teammate Tony
Massenburg had a season-high 13 points.
"When you look and see that we contested 17 of 20 shots in the
fourth quarter, you know we were really going after them,"
Vancouver coach Sidney Lowe said. "It was pretty good defense by
us."
The loss was the fifth for the Blazers this season against teams
buried in the standings. Portland had also lost twice to the Los
Angeles Clippers and once to Atlanta.
"Something's not right," Dunleavy said.
Game notes
Vancouver center Bryant Reeves (rotator cuff) missed his
second straight game and is expected to be out at least another
week. Reeves was joined on the sidelines five minutes into the
contest by Grant Long, who sprained his ankle and did not return.
... Arvydas Sabonis of the Blazers (foot) also sat out. ...
Vancouver plays host to Toronto on Sunday. ... The announced crowd
of 15,512 was more than 2,000 above average, since Vancouver was
given permission by the NBA to seek another home next season.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
Governor's aide: Grizzlies narrow list to New Orleans, Anaheim
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Cleveland 84
Philadelphia 108
Atlanta 103
Boston 104
Washington 72
Miami 86
Minnesota 79
New Jersey 96
New York 83
Detroit 108
Chicago 75
Dallas 102
Golden State 73
Utah 107
Phoenix 95
Toronto 110
Seattle 99
Vancouver 95
Portland 85
San Antonio 93
LA Lakers 89
Sacramento 110
Denver 104
|
