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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:34 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, 2009

NBA: Blazers rally to beat Grizzlies 96-93

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete Portland's comeback, and the Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-93 on Tuesday night.

Brandon Roy, who scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to key the Portland comeback, stole the ball from Memphis guard Mike Conley with 8 seconds left, then hit the ensuing two free throws to preserve the win.

O.J. Mayo's 3-point attempt as time ran out bounced off the rim, giving Portland its fifth victory in six games. The loss snapped Memphis' four-game winning streak.

Rudy Fernandez and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 apiece for the Trail Blazers. Outlaw finished with 11 points and Greg Oden scored 10.

Mayo led Memphis with 31 points, hitting 13 of his 21 shots, going 5-of-7 outside the arc. Rudy Gay had 19 before fouling out on Outlaw's go-ahead basket. Hakim Warrick added 13 points and Conley 12.

The victory left Portland a game ahead of the New Orleans Hornets for the fifth seed in the Western Conference. The Hornets beat Miami 93-87 in overtime on Tuesday night.

Portland took a 77-76 lead when Outlaw connected on a 19-footer with 8 minutes left, but Mayo hit consecutive 3-pointers as Memphis retook the lead with 6:58 left.

The teams were tied at 21 after a quarter, and Memphis held a 29-28 lead with 7:20 left in the half. At that point, the Grizzles rattled off 13 straight points, part of an 18-1 run that put Memphis up 47-29.

Memphis outscored Portland 26-14 in the second, but Aldridge connected on a three-point play and Roy's 3-pointer closed the half as the Trail Blazers cut the deficit to 47-35 at the break.

The Blazers, who average 12.8 turnovers, had a dozen by halftime and were shooting 33 percent. They finished with 19 miscues in the game.

The Trail Blazers chipped away at the Memphis lead, getting it under double digits in the early stages of the second half. But Portland was still plagued by shooting and ballhandling woes, and couldn't get closer than nine until consecutive 3-pointers by Fernandez.

Sergio Rodriguez hit a pair of free throws, capping Portland's 10-0 run to end the quarter. Aldridge had 10 in the period, helping the Trail Blazers enter the final quarter trailing 69-67. Outlaw extended the rally with a 19-footer to open the fourth, pulling Portland even at 69.

Notes: Memphis was trying to win five straight for the first time since the end of the 2005-06 season. The Grizzlies are now 11-23 under coach Lionel Hollins, who took over when Marc Iavaroni was fired earlier in the season. The Trail Blazers are 31-6 against teams under .500, including 12 straight wins. The Grizzlies dressed only 10 players for the game. In addition to C Chris Mihm and G Mike Wilks, who haven't played since they were acquired in February trades, G Quinton Ross missed his second straight game with strained left quadriceps. Darko Milicic also did not play because a strained right hamstring. Portland has won seven straight over Memphis.