Bulls clinch last-minute victory over Grizzlies in preseason game
The Associated Press
October 25, 2006
CHICAGO – Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni scored 13 points each and Andre Barrett hit the go-ahead layup to lead the Chicago Bulls to an 87-84 preseason victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
The Bulls (5-1) were trailing 84-83 when Barrett gave them the lead with 11.8 seconds left.
Memphis’ Lawrence Roberts then missed an 18-foot jumper and Chicago rookie Thabo Sefolosha converted two free throws with 4.4 seconds left.
Gordon, who along with forwards Luol Deng and Viktor Khryapa had their fourth-year options exercised for 2007-08 on Tuesday, was 3-of-8 from the field but hit all seven of his free throws.
The Bulls were 25-of-28 from the foul line, with Nocioni and P.J. Brown sinking all four of their attempts.
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Nocioni also had six rebounds, while rookie Tyrus Thomas grabbed eight rebounds and scored 10 points.
Thomas also had two strong dunks in the fourth quarter, one after a missed jumper by Khryapa and another after catching a no-look pass from Khryapa midway through the quarter.
The Grizzlies (3-4) were within 77-76 after Chucky Atkins’ 3-pointer, and they went ahead 84-83 with 18.4 seconds left when he hit another one in transition after Alexander Johnson stole a pass.
Mike Miller scored 23 points for Memphis after missing the previous four games with a toe problem.
Hakim Warrick added 14.
Miller, who had the nail on his right big toe removed, checked in midway through the first quarter and hit his first three shots. He was 9-of-17 overall.
Injuries have made it difficult for the Grizzlies to sort out their rotation.
They suffered a major hit when leading scorer and rebounder Pau Gasol broke a bone in his left foot while playing for Spain in the world championships, and others have been dinged in the preseason.
Besides Miller, guard Junior Harrington returned after missing two games with a broken nose.
But forwards Stromile Swift and Brian Cardinal sat out with sore knees.
Memphis wraps up the preseason Wednesday at Detroit. The Bulls visit Minnesota on Wednesday and host Toronto on Friday.
