Grizzlies late game execution dooms Nuggets

DENVER —  With Danilo Gallinari, Marc Gasol and seemingly the entire Memphis Grizzlies roster on the shelf with injuries, tonight’s contest in front of an announced crowd of 10,324 was destined to be an ugly one.

48-minutes of, I guess basketball, culminated with a 103-96 Grizzlies victory behind 22 points from Zach Randolph, 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists from Matt Barnes and 15 and 14 points off the bench from Mario Chalmers and Lance Stephenson, respectively.

“I’m just really disappointed with the effort,” a frustrated Michael Malone said. “We started a seven-game homestand and I thought we had a lot of guys play with no energy at all. We had a complete lack of discipline, no regard for the basketball at all.”

For the Nuggets, Kenneth Faried led the way with 16 points on just 8-12 shooting and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. The Manimal played with an energy that was somewhat lacking with the rest of their roster.

“I thought he brought some offensive energy,” Malone said. “I thought defensively, I think he could have been better. I think we all could have been better.”

Faried was matched up on Randolph throughout most of the night and the Grizzlies successfully played through him in the post early and often. He was met with little resistance from Denver’s frontline.

“DA was on [Randolph] at times, Kenneth was on him at times earlier in the game, Nikola was on him a few times,” Malone said. “Just from an activity standpoint, we just decided to match Kenneth with him in that second half.”

At times it felt like the Nuggets were desperately searching for scoring. Denver only attempted 10 free throws on the night, a low total likely attributed to Gallinari’s absence, and often looked lost on the offensive end.

Malone preached yesterday at practice how not one guy can replace Gallinari’s production and it would take a team effort and would fall on everyone’s shoulders. Someone whose shoulders it might fall on a little heavier is Will Barton.

Barton, who averaged 22.8 points per game with Gallinari out of the lineup for six games ealier this season struggled tonight. He scored just nine points on nine shots in 34 minutes off the bench. Asked if he feels more responsibility with Gallo out, Barton echoed that it would take a team effort.

“It’s not just [on] me,” Barton said. “It’s a team sport. I just gotta go out there and play better.”

Gary Harris, who’s trying to regain his stroke from range after slumping since the All-Star break scored 15 points on 6-13 shooting and was 3-8 from three.

Jusuf Nurkic remained the odd man out of the big man rotation and recorded a DNP-CD.

WHERE/WHEN

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, Feb. 29, 2016

PLAYER OF THE GAME FOR NUGGETS

Faried was Denver’s best player tonight, supplying an energy and effectiveness that was missing from much of Denver’s roster. The Nuggets definitly wouldn’t have been in this one if it weren’t for Faried’s play.

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Barton’s ridiculous finish

Barton with the ‘rondo’ and sky hook

BY THE NUMBERS

QUOTE OF THE GAME

Malone on his team’s effort:

“When you beat yourself, you cant beat your opponent and we beat ourself tonight. And its unacceptable.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Denver welcomes the latest edition of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour to Pepsi Center on Wednesday. Doors at 6:00 p.m. MST. Show starts at 7:00 p.m. MST.