Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Postgame Grades and Analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers avoided a sweep at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, earning a 99-92 victory Monday night at Moda Center in Portland.
Damian Lillard scored eight of his game-high 32 points during the final two minutes of the game, helping Portland survive LaMarcus Aldridge's 6-of-22 shooting performance.
Memphis led by as many as 10 points during the final frame, but a 3-of-12 stretch in the closing minutes allowed the Blazers to battle back. Marc Gasol paced the Grizzlies—which still hold a 3-1 series advantage—with 21 points and six assists, also snagging seven boards.
Point guard Mike Conley was sidelined due to a "serious facial injury" and has no timetable for his return, per Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.
The Blazers earned a 22-9 edge in second-chance points, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds while limiting Memphis to just seven.
| Marc Gasol | B |
| Zach Randolph | C |
| Nick Calathes | C+ |
| Beno Udrih | C |
| Rest of Team | C- |
| Damian Lillard | A- |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | C |
| Nicolas Batum | C+ |
| Meyers Leonard | B |
| Rest of Team | C+ |
Memphis Grizzlies
Marc Gasol: B
Portland held Gasol without a rebound and to just two assists through the halftime buzzer, but the center came out aggressive after the break.
Gasol dished four assists in the second half and may as well have been credited with a few more dimes since his stout screens created uncontested opportunities for teammates.
Bully-ball didn't work for Zach Randolph early on. He missed his first five shots and grabbed just three rebounds. At halftime, Memphis assistant coach Elston Turner told Grizzlies sideline reporter Rob Fischer that the team's "stars have to produce."
Z-Bo turned it around, registering eight points and six rebounds during the third quarter, which helped Memphis build a 27-13 edge in the frame. But Randolph struggled mightily on defense and finished the night 6-of-20 from the field, managing 12 points and nine rebounds.
Nick Calathes: C+
The Grizzlies trudged through a slow start, but Nick Calathes lifted the team. The 6'6" guard, who filled in for Conley, buried a pair of triples within the opening two minutes and shined as the most aggressive player on defense following the tip.
Although Calathes forced Lillard into some tough shots, the Portland superstar knocked a few down anyway. Calathes unsurprisingly slowed after his hot start, capping his night with 12 points, three boards and three assists.
Beno Udrih: C
Portland's second unit is weak in the backcourt, so it wasn't a surprise when Beno Udrih picked on elder statesman Steve Blake. Udrih tallied seven points and one assist while Lillard was off the floor.
After missing Game 3 because of an ankle injury, he was again a critical piece for Memphis, supplying double-digit scoring for the third straight appearance. However, Udrih couldn't find the range in the second half, ending with 13 points and a minus-13 rating.
Rest of Team: C-
Tony Allen was a pesky defender and reeled in 10 rebounds, but a late foul proved costly. Courtney Lee continued his torrid postseason, shredding the Blazers for 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting overall.
Moving forward, the Grizzlies need more from Jeff Green. The small forward hit 3-of-10 shots for seven points. Jon Leuer logged two curious fourth-quarter minutes, being tagged with a minus-six rating. Memphis coach Dave Joerger has some explaining to do there.
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard: A-
Entering the night, Lillard had knocked down four of his 30 field-goal attempts from 10 feet or farther in the series, per Basketball-Reference.com. In the first half alone, the streaky point guard netted three buckets from 17-plus feet out.
Plus, he displayed the elite athleticism defenses can only hope to contain:
Lillard posted a playoff career-best 32 points, highlighted by a four-point play with 1:58 remaining that gave Portland a lead it never relinquished. Lillard added seven assists.
LaMarcus Aldridge: C
Aldridge hadn't compiled a decent shooting night in the opening three contests, so expectations for the power forward were high. He appeared like he'd turn it around in Game 4, however, providing more than a few turnaround jumpers over his right shoulder for 10 points.
But after halftime, Aldridge couldn't hit anything from the field—literally nothing—as he clanked nine consecutive shots. Most importantly, though, LMA's defense stymied Z-Bo for a majority of the night and aided Portland in stealing a win.
Nicolas Batum: C+
Nicolas Batum had a forgettable offensive night, misfiring on 10 of his 13 attempts from the field. He missed six three-pointers, despite being wide open for a couple of looks.
Batum grabbed 13 defensive rebounds—including the game-sealing board—and drew a foul, as questionable as it may have been, that likely destroyed Memphis' possible heroics. Batum also tallied 12 points and four assists.
Meyers Leonard: B
Since Wesley Matthews is unavailable, Portland needs another player to step up from long distance. Monday's outing showcased Meyers Leonard, a 7'1" center with impressive range.
Leonard grabbed two offensive rebounds that led to a combined five points and nailed a trifecta. Then, the first quarter ended. He buried two more treys, finished 5-of-6 overall and earned a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Rest of Team: C+
C.J. McCollum dropped in a game-tying layup and go-ahead triple late in the fourth. He followed up a 26-point performance with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Robin Lopez contributed a quiet six points and three points, but Arron Afflalo didn't enter the game during the final 18-plus minutes. The shooting guard went 0-of-5 on the night, missing both of his three-point attempts.
What's Next?
The teams head back to Memphis for Game 5 of the series, which will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30. TNT will broadcast the game.
Conley is not expected back, so Portland has a terrific opportunity to grab another victory and bring the first-round matchup back to Moda. The Trail Blazers are looking to avoid a gentleman's sweep for the second straight season.
Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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