Chandler Parsons debuts, Grizzlies lose to Blazers

NBA News – Marc Gasol caught a pass from JaMychal Green and without hesitation launched a 3-point attempt that splashed through the nets.

On the Grizzlies’ next possession, the basketball moved quickly with Tony Allen flipping the ball to Gasol and then Allen receiving it back from Gasol in two seconds.

Allen connected on a 3-pointer from the baseline in what was a consistent show of continuity between the Griz starters. Memphis finally had its intended starting unit on the floor Sunday afternoon for the first time with Chandler Parsons making his regular-season debut.

Parsons struggled to make shots, but Gasol snapped out of a shooting slump and the Griz displayed sharp ball movement throughout a 100-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in FedExForum.

Gasol entered the game shooting 34 percent in his first five appearances this season. The 7-footer found an offensive rhythm, making seven of 14 field goals mostly on a variety of moves within 15 feet of the basket.

Gasol’s 21 points paced the Griz, who led by as many as 10 points in the second half of a game that had 13 lead changes and 12 ties. But the Grizzlies’ offense went cold in the final six minutes.

Zach Randolph tied the score at 86 with a running hook in the lane with 7:40 remaining in the game. The Blazers then put together a 9-2 run to sew a cushion.

Parsons received a roaring ovation by the fans during player introductions. His offense, though, remained silent. Parsons played 21 minutes because of the Grizzlies’ maintenance program. The Grizzlies’ big free-agent acquisition this offseason misfired on all eight of his shot attempts. Parsons forced his first shot in an attempt to draw a foul on a 3-pointer. He couldn’t connect on his other two shots from beyond the arc and those were wide-open looks.

Parsons will need several games to find his timing given he missed all of training camp and the Grizzlies’ first six regular-season games.

Portland, meanwhile, enjoyed a 37-point scoring outburst from guard C.J. McCollum. He tossed in six of the Blazers’ 14 3-pointers.

Memphis led 51-47 at halftime after Mike Conley heaved a 29-foot shoot that scored to beat the second quarter buzzer.

Neither team shot well in the first half.

Both squads shot less than 40 percent. Memphis made up for the poor shooting by making 18 of 21 free throws while Portland connected on eight of 17 3-pointers.

Category: Basketball