Miller Gives Grizzlies 1st Win of Season
The Associated Press
Friday, November 3, 2006; 11:37 PM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Miller scored 27 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to their first win of the season, 96-83 over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night.
Miller's shooting performance overshadowed 21 points for Charlotte rookie Adam Morrison as the Bobcats remained winless through the first two games. Charlotte has lost all five games to the Grizzlies since the Bobcats entered the league in 2004.
  Charlotte Bobcats' Jake Voskuhl, right, tries to pull a loose ball from the Memphis Grizzlies' Lyle Lowery during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo Jim Weber) (Jim Weber - AP) |
Memphis erased a 72-60 deficit early in the fourth quarter with 13 straight points as Miller hit consecutive 3-pointers from the left wing, and Lawrence Roberts had five points in the stretch. A layup by Chucky Atkins with 8:48 left completed Memphis' comeback.
From there, the teams traded leads and Charlotte was still close until Miller scored eight straight points, including two 3-pointers, for a 90-80 lead with just under 4 minutes to play.
Morrison, the third overall pick out of Gonzaga, came off the bench and displayed his shooting touch immediately, overcoming an early Memphis lead. He finished 8-of-15 from the field, but was held scoreless in the final quarter as Dahntay Jones clamped on defensive pressure.
Hakim Warrick added 15 points for Memphis, while Eddie Jones had 10 despite going just 3-of-15 from the field. Miller grabbed nine rebounds to his night.
Brevin Knight and Gerald Wallace both finished with 12 points for Charlotte. Knight had seven assists.
Morrison didn't start, but entered midway through the first quarter when Knight got in early foul trouble. He missed one of his first five shots and was already in double figures early in the second quarter. He had 16 points as Charlotte took a 47-44 halftime lead.
The Bobcats matched their biggest lead of the game when Wallace had a steal and breakaway layup to go up 63-55 with about 4 minutes left in the period.
Morrison was shooting so well at that point, that he let out a yelp of frustration when his 35-footer as third quarter ended rattled in and out, leaving Charlotte with a 70-60 lead.
Notes:@ Knight played for the Grizzlies from 2000-03. ... Wallace was back in the lineup after leaving Wednesday night's game against the Pacers with head and neck injuries. ... Memphis G Damon Stoudamire, who did not play down the stretch in Wednesday's triple-overtime loss to New York, was back in the lineup. The Grizzlies said he had leg cramps and no damage to the knee he previously injured. ... Memphis F Stromile Swift continues to nurse a left ankle sprain and was on the inactive list again.
