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NBAE / Getty Images
Tyrus Thomas scored 13 points in Memphis
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By MATT ROCHINSKI
bobcats.com
February 26, 2010
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The Bobcats entered Friday’s game in Memphis in desperation mode, looking to pick up a win in the final contest of their four-game road trip. Behind the strong play of Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw and Tyrus Thomas, Charlotte found the cure for what ailed them after three-straight road losses with a 93-89 victory over the Grizzlies.
"We defended great," said Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown. "We got seven blocked shots from Theo (Ratliff) and Tyrus. A lot of guys think twice now before going to the rim. I think Jack (Stephen Jackson) had his best all-around game. He let O.J. (Mayo) get nine early, but he defended great and got 11 rebounds. The defense the last five minutes, that was huge."
Jackson might have had trouble finding his stroke in Los Angeles and Utah the last two games, but he got into a groove against the Grizzlies, finishing with game highs in points (32 – including three treys) and rebounds.
While Jackson was strong throughout, it was Diaw’s first-half performance that helped keep Charlotte (28-29) in the game through the first 24 minutes. Diaw connected on his first five shots and had 12 points to help the Bobcats to a 48-47 lead at the break. He finished with 18 points on the night, including three 3-pointers of his own, including a clutch trey with under three minutes remaining to push Charlotte’s lead to 91-87.
Still, if there was any question as to what kind of impact the trade for Tyrus Thomas will make for the Bobcats down the stretch, he showed how much of a difference-maker he could be in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Having seen their 77-68 lead cut to 88-87 with 3:18 remaining, the Bobcats were looking for someone to step up on the defensive end – enter Thomas.
Memphis (29-29) had the chance to take the lead at that point, but Thomas rejected what would have been Zach Randolph’s 25th and 26th points of the evening. Instead, Randolph’s shot never made it near the rim when Thomas swatted it almost into the backcourt. Sam Young was able to track it down for the Grizzlies, but Gerald Wallace drew an offensive foul on Young – directly leading to Diaw’s 3-pointer the next trip down the court. Following two free throws by Randolph to cut the lead to 91-89 and a missed jumper by Jackson, it was time for another Thomas block – this time on Young – leading to a jump ball between Wallace and Randolph. Wallace won the ensuing tip and Raymond Felton, who was just 3-of-9 from the field until that point, knocked down a long two before the shot clock expired to give Charlotte the 93-89 advantage it needed for the win.
"In the games that we’re successful, we get our defense up," said Brown. "That happens when we take good shots and we get to the free throw line and rebound. I thought we did most of those things against this team."
Thomas finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks and three assists, as he continues to stuff the stat sheet since coming over in a trade-deadline deal with Chicago.
The Bobcats now return home to take on Dallas at 7 p.m. on Monday at Time Warner Cable Arena®.
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