Grizzlies best Sonics
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – If not for Chucky Atkins’ long-range prayer, the Memphis Grizzlies would never have gotten a chance to snap their six-game losing streak.
Atkins launched a 30-foot desperation shot at the end of the first overtime period Monday night to tie the game at 115 and help send the Grizzlies to a 134-126 double overtime victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.
Rudy Gay scored 17 points, including six in the second overtime, to put the game out of reach for the Grizzlies, relieved to finally come out ahead in a close game after a string of tough losses.
While Gay’s late scoring and Memphis connecting on 10 of 12 free throws in the final 1:33 helped seal the first Grizzlies victory since Dec. 6 at Boston, it was Atkins’ jumper that had everyone talking. Officials reviewed the shot before ruling it good.
“I felt like it was going in because, as a shooter, you know when the ball feels good coming off your hand,” said Atkins, who was a meager 4 of 12 from the field at the end of regulation. “I thought I shot it kind of long because I put a little more oomph on it because I was a little far. I knew it had good rotation.”
Rashard Lewis, who led Seattle with a season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds, didn’t have as much faith in the shot at the time as Atkins.
“We didn’t think that he would make the shot,” Lewis said. “He did. They had the luck of the ball bouncing their way.
“Honestly, when he took the shot, I was getting ready to walk off the court because I knew he wasn’t going to make it. He still made it, and you have to go back out and play another five minutes.”
“It was a crazy shot,” Sonics guard Luke Ridnour added.
Mike Miller had 29 points, while Atkins finished with 28. Pau Gasol scored 15 points in 21 minutes.
Ridnour scored 22 points for Seattle, including 12 in overtime, and had 10 assists. Earl Watson scored 17 points, and Chris Wilcox chipped in 14.
Lewis connected on 10 of 22 shots from the field and 12 of 13 free throws as Seattle lost its fifth straight, all on the road. It marked the first time the Sonics have gone winless on a five-game road trip since 1987.
“This is the third one like that,” Ridnour said of the close games on the trip. “This was the first one we’ve actually been up in the last seconds. Other times, we were trying to make things happen.”
Lewis’ rebound basket with 1.5 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 99, sending the game into overtime after Miller’s last-second shot bounced off the rim.
But some of Seattle’s drive seemed to disappear as Atkins’ shot settled through the net, snatching the win away from the Sonics in the first extra period.