McCollum explodes as Trail Blazers outlast Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Portland shooting guard C.J. McCollum tied his career high with 37 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a 100-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday afternoon at FedExForum.
The score was tied 86-86 when forward Maurice Harkless (18 points, seven rebounds) hit a 3-pointer with 7:16 left in the fourth quarter that kicked off a 9-0 Portland run. Memphis quickly cut the lead to 95-92 with a 6-0 run of its own.
But McCollum was too much. He answered with his third straight 3 to hike the lead to 98-92 and the Grizzlies never made it a one-possession game again. McCollum scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard finished with 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Center Marc Gasol was one of five Grizzlies in double figures and led with 21 points. Point guard Mike Conley finished with 16 points and seven assists, Zach Randolph had 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench and Vince Carter scored 11 points with five rebounds. Tony Allen chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
In total, there were 13 lead changes and 12 ties in the game. Neither team ever led by more than 10 points.
Portland (4-3) hit 32 of 71 shots from the floor for 45.1 percent. The Blazers finished 14 of 33 from 3-point range for 42.4 percent; McCollum was 6 of 12 behind the arc.
Memphis (3-4) made 31 of 81 from the field for 38.3 percent and 6 of 26 from long range for 23.1 percent. Forward Chandler Parsons started his first game in a Memphis uniform and was scoreless points with three rebounds in just over 21 minutes. He was 0 of 8 overall and 0 of 3 from deep.
The Grizzlies led 51-47 at halftime and the second quarter ended with an off-the-dribble 3 from Conley, who finished the first half with 10 points. Lillard led all first-half scoring with 14 points. Gasol had 11 points.
NOTES: F Chandler Parsons, who signed a four-year, $94 million contract with Memphis in the offseason, was in Sunday's starting lineup for his season debut. Parsons was working his way back from offseason knee surgery. In five seasons with Houston and Dallas, Parsons has averaged 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. ... Portland PG Damian Lillard came into Sunday's game averaging 34.2 points, second in the NBA. ... The Trail Blazers entered Sunday's contest having won just four of the previous 15 meetings with the Grizzlies, dating to the start of the 2012-13 season. Memphis defeated the Trail Blazers 4-1 in the first round of the 2014-15 playoffs. ... Portland's victory over Dallas on Nov. 4 was the 300th career win for Terry Stotts as a head coach.