Grizzlies winning streak ends in 103-98 home loss to Milwaukee

[La Bomba]

When the game called for big plays, the slightest and least experienced player on the court stepped up.

 

The Grizzlies had the muscle and clear edge in talent for any play under the basket. But they didn't have the patience or commitment to exploit that advantage.

 

Nor did the Griz have rookie guard Brandon Jennings.

 

Jennings -- a slender 6-1 point guard generously listed at 169 pounds -- scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the second half Saturday night for the Milwaukee Bucks, who left FedExForum with a 103-98 victory over the Griz.

 

An announced crowd of 11,209 anticipated seeing the Griz extend their longest winning streak this season after they returned home Friday with a victory at Philadelphia. But the string of victories ended at three games with the Griz unable to contain Jennings or counter the Bucks' small lineups.

 

"They did a good job of taking away our post play," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "We didn't share the ball. We held the ball and we saw different mismatches. So everybody thought they were mismatched and when they caught the ball they tried to do something with it on their own."

 

The Grizzlies' stagnant offense was in contrast to what garnered them success over the past week. The game got away from Hollins & Co. after Rudy Gay scored five straight points to tie the score at 90 with 3:21 left in the fourth period.

 

Bucks guard Charlie Bell then buried a wide-open 3-pointer and Jennings converted a pair of free throws and an 18-foot shot as part of a run of eight unanswered points for the Bucks.

 

Milwaukee then led, 98-90, with 32 seconds left and sealed its third straight win with Jennings converting five straight free throws.

 

"We're a second-half team," Jennings said. "We're just not going to throw in the towel and give up. Everyone came out and contributed in the second half."

 

Jennings made 8-of-15 shots in the second half. He only attempted three field goals in the first half and played just 11 minutes because Bucks coach Scott Skiles was unhappy with his erratic play.

 

The rookie, who already has scored 55 points in a game this season, calmed down after halftime. The Griz, particularly Marcus Williams, found it difficult to contain Jennings in the Bucks' pick-and-roll sets.

 

"He used the pick-and-roll real well," Griz point guard Mike Conley said of Jennings. "He kept reusing it, and made tough shots."

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/21/grizzlies-end-winning-streak-103-98-home-loss-milw/