CLEVELAND — Tony Allen scored a season-high 26 points and the Memphis Grizzlies, despite playing without four injured starters, stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-103 on Monday night.
Vince Carter made four free throws in the final 13.4 seconds to steal the upset by a Memphis team that had more coaches than players sitting on the bench.
Lance Stephenson added 17 points and JaMychal Green 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who forced the Cavs into a season-high 25 turnovers and never backed down against the Eastern Conference’s top team. Allen was back after missing eight games with a knee injury for Memphis, which only dressed eight players.
LeBron James scored 28 points and Kyrie Irving had 27 — 14 in the fourth — for the Cavaliers. James also moved past Hall of Famer John Havlicek into 13th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.
Perhaps overconfident following weekend wins over Washington and Boston, and against a Memphis team without Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Chris Andersen and Matt Barnes, the Cavs were outplayed at both ends. Cleveland trailed the under-manned Grizzlies the entire game before taking its first lead on Irving’s steal and layup with 2:42 remaining.
Memphis figured to buckle, but the Grizzlies wouldn’t give in and took a 101-100 lead on Mario Chalmers’ layup with 25 seconds left.
Allen then tied up James on a drive, forcing and winning a jump ball with 17 seconds to go. Chalmers made a free throw and Carter made two free throws before James hit a 3-pointer to bring the Cavs within 104-103.
Carter, who finished with 15 points, made two more from the line and the Grizzlies escaped with an unexpected win when Irving’s 3-pointer at the horn hit the back of the rim.
Only an hour before tip-off, Memphis coach David Joerger hadn’t finalized his starting lineup.
The Grizzlies initially said only Conley (foot) and Andersen (shoulder) would be out, but then Joerger broke the news that Randolph (knee) and Barnes (hamstring) were also sidelined, making things even tougher on a Memphis team already without centre Marc Gasol, done for the season because of a broken right foot.
The short-handed Grizzlies faced a daunting task, but they weren’t intimidated.
Memphis shot 60 per cent in the first quarter, and taking advantage of 13 turnovers by the Cavaliers, the Grizzlies built a 58-49 lead at halftime.
Every time the Cavs put together a run to cut into Memphis’ lead, the Grizzlies counterpunched.
Earlier in the third quarter, Green outworked four Cleveland players under the basket for a rebound and follow shot.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Conley underwent an MRI and the team is hoping to have a better sense of how long he will be sidelined later this week. … Memphis has lost more playing time due to injury or illness this season than any other current playoff team. … The four missing starters average a combined 42.9 points.
Cavaliers: James said the chance to play one final game against Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant would not take precedence over any decision for him to sit out and rest. The Cavs visit the Lakers at Staples Center on Thursday night. Bryant is retiring in April at the conclusion of his 20th season in the NBA. James said he and coach Tyronn Lue have discussed possible games he’ll sit but “it’s still day-to-day.” … James was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the 51st time in his career.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: At Boston on Wednesday.
Cavaliers: At Sacramento on Wednesday.
