Green’s Game-Winning Dunk Lead Grizz Past Suns

Jeff Green saved the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns, winning a close affair, 95-93, after the forward made an alley-oop dunk with 0.5 seconds left in the game.

The Grizzlies’ averted the late-game collapse as they led the Suns, 93-87, with 1:30 left on the final quarter. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots and five others finished in double-figure scoring for Memphis, who has won three of their last four games to improve to 12-9 for the season.

Off the bench, Courtney Lee added 18 points and 6 assists. Starters Mike Conley had 12 points, 6 assists and 3 steals while Zach Randolph and Green added 10 points apiece.

Eric Bledsoe had 23 points and Brandon Knight had 17 points for the Suns, who suffered their fourth straight loss and eighth defeat in the last nine games to drop to 8-13 for the season and 3-8 away from home.

The Suns had a legit chance to pull off the late-game comeback with Suns center Alex Len tying the game at 93-all with 11.9 seconds left in the game. A goal-tending call against the Suns was overturned and gave the possession back to Phoenix with over two seconds left. However, Knight turned the ball over and gave the Grizzlies a chance for the game-winner.

Memphis won the points in the paint battle, 48-34 and also forced the Suns to 18 turnovers, none bigger than the last one from Knight.

The Grizzlies, who lost big to rival San Antonio Spurs in their previous game, now looks forward to a Tuesday marquee match-up against Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Suns end a long six-game road trip Monday when they face the Chicago Bulls.