Boston Celtics Knock Off Mighty Memphis Grizzlies

The Boston Celtics battled tooth-and-nail for 48 minutes Wednesday night, downing the Western Conference’s mighty Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden, 95-92. Avery Bradley led the way for the Celtics with a team-high 17 points, helping to spoil Jeff Green‘s return.

Marcus Smart laid in an Evan Turner inbound pass and completed a three-point play with just 52 seconds left in the game to put the Celtics up 91-90. Bradley followed up by drilling a straight-away jumper with eight seconds left to play. The shot put Boston up 95-92. They held on to win and earned a season series split with Memphis in doing so.

In victory, the Celtics improved to 4-1 in their last five games. They now trail the Miami Heat by just 1.5 games for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

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Kelly Olynyk scored 15 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Jae Crowder added 16 off the bench. Brandon Bass and Tyler Zeller each tallied a dozen. Zeller hit two clutch free throws with 40 seconds left to play to put Boston up 93-90.

In a game that featured 14 lead changes, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Tony Allen made it difficult for the Celtics to create any sort of separation on the scoreboard. Conley finished with 20 points. Randolph and Allen chipped in with 16 apiece.

The Celtics were dominated in the paint, getting outscored by the Grizzlies to a tune of 50-36. Boston’s ball-hawking defense though, proved too much to overcome. They forced 21 Memphis turnovers in the game.

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After exiting the game with an ankle injury, Conley returned and nearly willed the Grizzlies to victory. He hit a big three with 5:18 left to play. The momentum swung in Memphis’ direction, but the Celtics kept it close and set themselves up for a chance to win the game in the final minute.

The play of the game came as the Celtics were down 90-88. Turner lobbed a pass over the head of a Memphis defender, Smart grabbed it and flipped it up and in while falling to the floor. He hit the ensuing free throw and the Grizzlies would never take another lead.

Green scored 11 points for Memphis in his return. Isaiah Thomas did not play for the Celtics.

Boston will next be in action on Friday night against the Orlando Magic.