Grizzlies clinch playoff spot with rout of Knicks
The lowly - and hobbled - New York Knicks were exactly what the Memphis Grizzlies needed in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Memphis became the second team in the Western Conference to advance to the postseason after crushing the Knicks 103-82 on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The Grizzlies were powered by the frontcourt tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph had a game-high 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Gasol chipped in with 21 and eight boards. The duo hooked up for a nifty play, too.
Memphis, which heads to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, won its 50th game for the fourth time in team history. With 11 contests remaining, the Grizzlies are within striking distance of their single-season all-time wins mark of 56 set in 2012-13.
Grizzlies: 3rd straight 50-win season Before this run, the franchise won 50 games just once in its first 17 seasons of existence.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 24, 2015
The Grizzlies' next goal will be locking up the division. They're 2.5 games ahead of the Houston Rockets for first place in the Southwest. Led by James Harden's 44 points, the Rockets dropped the Indiana Pacers on Monday.