Grizzlies fall to Charlotte on last-second tip-in, 89-87

[La Bomba]

With the starters struggling through a rare off-night offensively, the Grizzlies couldn’t muster enough firepower to overcome the Charlotte Bobcats and left Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday with an 89-87 loss.

 

Memphis, which won a grueling home game against Utah on Friday, fell to 0-8 in the second game of back-to-back sets, thanks to Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace tipping in the game-winner as time expired.

 

Wallace’s basket came after Griz rookie DeMarre Carroll harassed guard Raymond Felton into throwing up an air ball that sailed over the rim. But Wallace was there for the catch and dagger.

 

“These games for us are mental,” Griz forward Rudy Gay said. “We’re having tough games after a tough game.”

 

Defense wasn’t the Grizzlies’ problem despite the finish. They struggled mightily to score in the second half even though O.J. Mayo nearly forced overtime. Mayo buried a straight-away 3-pointer that knotted the game at 87 with 8.8 seconds left.

 

“I wanted to get a shot up with enough time on the clock so we could get a rebound in case I missed,” Mayo said. “Fortunately, I knocked it down.”

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jan/09/grizzlies-fall-charlotte-last-second-tip--89-87/