Jones, Trail Blazers Down Grizzlies
POSTED: 11:07 pm PDT April 15,
2008
Portland, OR -- (Sports Network) - James Jones led seven Portland players in double-digit scoring with 20 while Brandon Roy posted 16 points and 11 assists, as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 113-91, at the Rose Garden.Jarrett Jack scored 18 points, Channing Frye netted 16 and Steve Blake added 12 points for Portland, which has won two straight and will close its 2007-08 regular season at Phoenix on Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge notched 11 points and Travis Outlaw added 10 in the victory. "We're trying to play the way the coach wants us to play and the way we can play for 48 minutes," said Frye. "We have a lot to look forward to. We wanted to have fun these last games and get better. Everybody has contributed." Hakim Warrick led the way for Memphis with 17 points while Rudy Gay and Andre Brown both poured in 16 points in the losing effort. The Grizzlies led 27-24 after the first quarter, but the Blazers took control with a solid effort in the second quarter. With the score tied 45-45 with three minutes to play in the first half, the Blazers used a 10-3 run to enter the locker room with a 55-48 advantage. Frye's jumper, two free throws by Roy, a consecutive three-pointers by Blake and Roy completed the surge. "I thought we played well in the first half -- we were playing with a lot of confidence, which is good to see," said Memphis head coach Marc Iavaroni. In the third stanza, the Blazers outscored the Grizzlies 28-21 to maintain their lead. Midway through the third, the Blazers led by as many as 18 when Frye's bucket gave them a 74-56 lead with under six minutes to go. Several minutes later, the lead grew to 20 after Outlaw's jumper was good. "We have to go out there and play a full 48 minutes," said Warrick. "At the beginning of third and end of the fourth quarter, we didn't have the same energy." Portland maintained its lead throughout the fourth quarter and Memphis never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Game Notes Portland ended its home schedule with a 28-13 mark...Memphis will conclude its regular season on Wednesday against the Nuggets in Denver...The Trail Blazers swept the season series versus the Grizzlies, 3-0...The Blazers shot 13-for-26 from beyond the arc, while the visitors were 5-for-28 from three-point range.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.





