Grizzlies beat Blazers, advance to 2nd round of playoffs

Marc Gasol had 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Portland Trail Blazers 99-93 on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies reached the West semifinals for the third time in five years. They will play Game 1 on Sunday at Golden State.

-- CSN Bay Area


Conley missed the Grizzlies' final two games of the Portland series after having surgery Monday to repair broken bones in his face. He was in the arena Wednesday night and by the bench when the game ended.

The Grizzlies replaced Conley the past two games by starting Nick Calathes and having Beno Udrih come off the bench. But they couldn't replace both his 16 points per game against Portland and his defensive skills. Trying to defend Damian Lillard and all of Portland's 3-point shooters gave the Memphis coaches fits.

-- AP