http://www.sportal.co.in/other-sports-news-display/spurs-on-the-edge-120127
Spurs on the edge
26/04/2011 11:52 AM
Sportal
The San Antonio Spurs are on the brink of being eliminated from the NBA playoffs after falling once again to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game Four on Monday night (US time).
The Grizzlies rallied from a two-point deficit at half-time to rout the Western Conference's top seed 104-86, opening up a 3-1 lead in their seven-game playoff series.
Mike Conley put up 15 points and seven assists, Tony Allen had 12 points and Zach Randolph 11 for the Grizzlies, who will attempt to clinch the series in Texas on Wednesday.
Allen, Marc Gasol and Sam Young combined for a 16-2 run in the third quarter as San Antonio went cold, shooting six-of-15 from the floor and giving up seven turnovers.
Reserve forward Darrell Arthur sank back-to-back jumpers to stretch the Grizzlies' lead to 78-65 at the final break, and banked in another to send the hosts 18 points clear early in the fourth.
When Mike Conley found Shane Battier in the right corner and the former Houston Rockets forward buried the three with five minutes and 43 seconds left, the Grizzlies went up 94-74 and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich pulled his starters.
The message was clear - Game Four is a lost cause; time to rest up for Game Five.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points, but managed just four in the second half, Manu Ginobili had 14 and Gary Neal put up 11.
Tim Duncan, celebrating his 35th birthday, had just six.
The Grizzlies are attempting to become just the second eighth seed to upset a first seed since 2003, when the NBA expanded its postseason first round to a best-of-seven format.