GRIZZLIES.COM
Raptors bite into Grizzlies
November 20, 2005
The FedExForum was filled with people wearing Iverson jerseys, and holding up signs welcoming AI to Memphis. When he was introduced the crowd went extremely crazy, both teams then made their way to center court. Lorenzen Wright tipped it back to Allen Iverson as the fans began to cheer in the FedExForum, the game then began. Allen Iverson ran in and drew the defense, he then passed it out to Mike Miller who was alone on the perimiter. Mike Miller hit the three pointer an the Grizzlies were up 3-0, Iverson had 1 assist. The Grizz and Raptors both went basket for basket, the game was tied at 7. That was untill Iverson got the ball to Mike Miller again who hit a three pointer and put the Grizzlies up by three, he led the Grizzlies in scoring with eight points. Rafter Alson hit two three pointers in a row for the Raptors, and the Grizzlies now trailed by three points. Iverson came off the Pau Gasol pick and dropped in a three pointer to tie the game at 13-13 with 4:45 left in the first quarter. The Grizzlies took the lead back thanks to a Iverson steal and layup, the Grizzlies led by three points. While bringing the ball up court, Alston was stripped and then dunked on my Allen Iverson who had now scored two baskets in a row. After exchanging baskets late in the quarter, a last second Shane Battier jumper gave the Grizzlies a one point lead.
End of First Quarter
Toronto Raptors (0-5) - 22
Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) - 23
Vladamir checks in at the beginning of the second quarter and goes for a three pointer, he misses but Brian Cardinal gets the board and throws it back out to him. Vladamir throws up another three pointer and it falls in, nothing but net. After both teams began struggling to drop shots, Vladamir put up another three pointer and it went in. The Grizzlies rookies began to shine with Iverson and Pau Gasol on the bench, and the Raptors had no answer. Jovanovski was throwing up three pointers, and the ones that didn't fall were rebounded by fellow rookie teammate Renjie Onyango. At this point the Grizzlies led by eight points, and Jovanovski led the team in scoring with nine points. Vladamir made a mistake when he fouled Ronald Murray beyond the arc, Murray made two out of three freethrows. Vladamir Jovanovski hit from near three point range, but the refs said it was only a two, the lead was now back up to eight. The Raptors started to go on a run and Hubie Brown decided it was time to bring back in his starters with 2:41 left in the second quarter.Donyell Marshall gave the Raptors the lead with 1:52 left, after a fast break slam dunk. Allen Iverson once again dished his target of choice, Mike Miller. Miller hit another three pointer and now had 11 points for the game, he was tied with Vladamir for the leading scorer of the game. Allen Iverson got control of a loose ball and threw it up court to Mike Miller, who tossed up a three pointer which fell in. Mike Miller now had 14 points, and Allen Iverson had a game high 4 assists. Jalen Rose hit a last second three to cut the Grizzlies lead to two as the second quarter came to an end.
Key Players At The Half
Chris Bosh (MIN) - 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists
Pau Gasol (MEM) - 4 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks
Halftime
Toronto Raptors (0-5) - 44
Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) - 46
Mike Miller was money from downtown.
To start the third quarter, Rafer Alston dropped a three right in Iverson's face to give his team a one point lead, the Grizzlies fan started to boo Alston. The Raptors once again left Mike Miller open, and once again Allen Iverson found him for the three point basket. The game was now tied at 49-49 and Iverson had 5 assists, Mike Miller had 17 points. Jalen Rose came down and hit a shot and was fouled in the process by Pau Gasol, Rose hit the freethrow and completed the three point play. The Toronto Raptors went on a 8-0 run but Iverson was able to stop that with an alley oop pass to Pau Gasol who jammed it down on the fastbreak. Iverson then got the ball again and laid it up, the Raptors lead was cut down to four. On the Raptors next possesion they had their ball blocked, and the ball was in Iverson's hand. ONCE AGAIN he got the ball to an open Mike Miller he hit a three pointer, and the Raptors were only up by one point now. Mike Miller had 20 points and Allen Iverson had 7 assists, the Grizzlies were looking like they were ready to take the lead back from the Raptors. Allen Iverson and Pau Gasol had worked hard to bring the Grizzlies back but when they were benched things went down hill. Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose tore the Grizzlies apart and at the end of the quarter the winless Raptors led by eight points.
End Of Third Quarter
Toronto Raptors (0-5) - 68
Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) - 60
Vladamir opened up the fourth quarter hitting a three pointer off a Shane Battier pick, the lead was now cut to five points but the Grizzlies would have to play defense to come back. Morris Peterson went for a three pointer to beat the shotclock but had it blocked, the ball was then given to Antonio Burks he ran down the other way. He went up for the layup and it went in, he was fouled on the shot! Three point play! He dropped the freethrow and headed to the bench as Allen Iverson and Pau Gasol headed in, they both smiled and said something to Burks as the crowd cheered him. Allen Iverson caught Speedy Claxton sleeping and stole the ball, he headed down court and layed it up to tie the game at 68-68. The crowd chanted defense but Ronald Murray hit a jumper in the face of the defense, which silenced the crowd and gave the Raptors a two point lead. Iverson passed to Vladamir on the fastbreak and Vladamir got the ball to Mike Miller who was STILL open from downtown. Mike Miller nailed another three and now had 23 points, he was 7/16 from beyond the arc. The Raptors missed their next shot and Allen Iverson ran down the court on the fastbreak, he threw up a three pointer and it went in! The crowd went insane as Iverson and Mike Miller ran to the other side of the court celebrating.The Raptors went on a small run but Iverson wouldn't let them go without a fight, he hit Mike Miller on the fastbreak again but this shot wasn't a three. Iverson found James Posey beyond the arc with 1:35 left, the Raptors were up by two points and the fans were on their feet chanting defense as loud as they could. Allen Iverson came off a Lorenzen Wright pick and shot a jumper but missed, but Lorenzen Wright grabbed the offensive board and slammed it down with two hands! The whole arena went crazy as Iverson and Lorenzen Wright celebrated, they knew they were now back in the game. Arujo hit a clutch shot and the Raptors now led by two points, the Grizzlies have time to send it to OT or take the victory. Allen Iverson got the ball and looked to pass but everyone was covered, he crosses over and shoots the jumper. NO! He missed it and the Grizzlies are now 0-2 at home, he walks off the court with a frustrated look on his face.
Final
Toronto Raptors (1-5) - 86
Memphis Grizzlies (2-2) - 84
X KEY STATS
Toronto Raptors
Rafer Alston - 18 points, 2 rebounds
Jalen Rose - 14 points, 6 rebounds
Donyell Marshall - 11 points, 4 rebounds
Chris Bosh - 5 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks
Memphis Grizzlies
Allen Iverson - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 8 steals (POTG)
Mike Miller - 25 points, 4 rebounds
Pau Gasol - 10 points, 11 rebounds, 7 blocks
Vladamir Jovanovski - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
at Scott Padgett's 21 points. How the hell did that happen? Haha, Shammond Williams and Eric Strickland too...... Aww man what have the Bobcats been up to? A pretty good game by Iverson too.
