NOTES & QUOTES
Heat Starting Five: Antonio Snow, Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hassan Whiteside
Summary: The Memphis Grizzlies put the Miami Heat through their paces again, this time forcing overtime before falling short. Memphis stopped their six-game win streak with a win over Brooklyn three nights ago and they were still on fire for this game. Mike Conley suffered a hyperextended shoulder in the win over the Nets and he was on the roster for the game tonight. For as close as the game was, if Conley wasn’t there, it would have been a blow out in Memphis.
Antonio Snow put up the first 13 points for the Heat as Miami took a 22-15 lead. Just as Deleon Wright was a problem in the last game, Jonas Valanciunas dominated the paint against Miami. He finished with a double-double tonight. Memphis managed to pull ahead just before halftime.
The Grizzlies were stretching out their lead, going up 71-82 at the end of the third quarter. Snow managed to put the team on his back in the fourth quarter and hit a pair of game tying free throws with one minute left to play. He missed the buzzer beater to end the game.
He refused to sit out in overtime, scoring 6 of Miami’s 12 points in the win. He was able to deflect Conley’s shot at the last second to tie the game.
Antonio Snow on missing the buzzer beater: I really wanted that. I’ve hit a couple buzzer beaters in my career, and you always relish that feeling. I’m glad I was able to pull through in overtime. Memphis is one of the toughest teams we’ve faced all year. They would make for a hell of a Finals opponent.
Mike Conley on playing through injury: It’s getting better. The arm felt good tonight. Still listed as day to day, but I’ll just keep rehabbing and I’m expecting to be back at hundred percent in a couple days.
Antonio Snow on the 43 points: The win is what I want. Whether I score 43 points, 14 points or 4 points, I want the win. It wasn’t just my 43. It was Melo’s 17 and the rest of the guys too. I scored 40 points against the Warriors, and we lost. So, I try not to look at my stat line. Looking at the win column folks.
Top Performers
Miami Heat
Antonio Snow – 43 PTS, 2 REB, 7 AST
Carmelo Anthony – 17 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
Bam Adebayo – 10 PTS, 4 REB
Memphis Grizzlies
Mike Conley – 26 PTS, 2 REB, 10 AST
Jonas Valanciunas – 26 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK
Ivan Rabb – 16 PTS, 7 REB