Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks about the unique challenge of facing and beating a shorthanded 76ers team at FedExForum.
David Cobb, The Commercial Appeal
Three 6 Mafia's "It's a fight" blared over the speakers on wrestling night at FedExForum.
And a fight it was.
The Grizzlies needed overtime but eventually they put a shorthanded 76ers team down for the count on Saturday night.
Memphis improved to 5-0 at home and 7-4 overall with a dramatic 112-106 win in front of 16,904 fans.
Mike Conley's floater with 1:06 left in overtime put Memphis up 110-106. From there, the Grizzlies held on for their second straight victory.
Here are a few observations from the game.
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Mike Conley's big night
Conley matched his scoring total from the Grizzlies' previous two games during a single five-minute stretch in the third quarter. He poured in 13 points in rapid succession, resurrecting the Grizzlies' hopes as FedExForum came alive. His final bucket in the stretch gave Memphis a 72-71 advantage.
Conley checked out soon after, and the 76ers closed the quarter on a 9-2 run. Conley finished with 32 points.
Grizzlies flat despite 76ers trade
The Grizzlies needed Conley's heroics even with Philadelphia shorthanded following news that the franchise negotiated a blockbuster trade for Minnesota star Jimmy Butler.
The deal worked in the Grizzlies' favor. Or at least it should have.
Robert Covington and Dario Saric, typically starters for the 76ers, sat out because they are expected to be part of the deal for Butler that won't be finalized until next week. That left Philadelphia with nine players available the night after it needed overtime to win at Charlotte.
Still, the 76ers appeared to be the more energetic team early as they opened up a 16-point first half lead.
Reserve guard T.J. McConnell entered averaging 12.7 minutes per game, but he terrorized Memphis in 34 minutes, finishing with 16 points and an alley-oop assist to Joel Embiid that put Philadelphia up 102-99 with 47.7 seconds left.
J.J. Redick goes off
Memphis entered holding opponents to a fairly average 36.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc. But J.J. Redick torched the Grizzlies. He hit three straight 3-pointers in the second quarter as the 76ers scored 37 points during the period.
He finished with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Dillon Brooks leaves with knee injury
Key Memphis reserve wing Dillon Brooks left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. He tripped over the basketball while playing defense.
Up next
The Grizzlies host the Jazz on Monday night (7 p.m., Fox Southeast). It will be the teams' third meeting in less than a month. The Grizzlies won the first two at Utah.
Reach David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @DavidWCobb.
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