Irving, Celtics Rally to Beat Grizzlies

Kyrie Irving saved his best for last on Saturday night. After scoring only four points on 1-of-4 shooting with a minus-10 in the first half, Irving totaled 22 points after intermission on 7-of-12 shooting as the Boston Celtics rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.

Kyrie Irving drives past Garrett Temple. Irving's 26 points led Boston to a road win. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Boston erased a 19-point second-half deficit, using an 11-2 run in the closing minutes of the third quarter to cut into the lead. Entering the fourth quarter down by eight, the Celtics outscored the Grizzlies 33-16 in the final period. 

Picking up the defensive intensity after halftime, the Celtics forced the Grizzlies into shooting contested deep range jumpers. The Grizzlies went ice cold from the floor, missing 15 of their first 16 fourth-quarter shots. Boston's Al Horford knocked down two critical threes in the game's final two minutes, putting the contest out of reach. He finished with 18 points—hitting five three-pointers—with six rebounds, three assists and a block in 23 minutes of action. Horford’s five 3-pointers matched a career high.

The Celtics got a strong effort from the bench, led by Gordon Hayward's 14 points. Guerschon Yabusele turned 16 minutes into a plus-11—the second best number on the team behind only Irving—with one made three-pointer, four rebounds and two blocks.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points in the win. 

Mike Conley led the way for Memphis, accumulating 26 points. Dillon Brooks came off the bench to score 19. Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. and former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol added 15 points apiece. Gasol logged 10 assists in the loss.

The Celtics relied on their defense and three-point shooting in their come-from-behind win. After surrendering 64 first-half points, the Celtics limited the Grizzlies to 39 points in the second half. Boston got hot from downtown after intermission, going 9 of 18 from three-point territory.

NBA All-Star Ballot 2015

Western Conference

Starters

Guard: Stephen Curry, Warriors

22.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 4.7 RPG. PER: 27.03 

Guard: James Harden, Rockets
27.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.6 RPG. PER: 27.76

Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
23.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG. PER: 23.03

Forward: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
24.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.9 BPG. PER: 31.93

Forward: Marc Gasol, Grizzlies

18.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG. PER: 22.65

Reserves

Guard: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
21.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG. PER: 21.78

Guard: Russell Westbrook, Thunder
25.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.9 RPG. PER: 27.61

Guard: Chris Paul, Clippers
17.5 PPG, 9.7 APG, 4.7 RPG. PER: 24.92

Guard: Klay Thompson, Warriors

23.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.6 RPG. PER: 22.79

Forward: Blake Griffin, Clippers
22.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.4 BPG. PER: 22.75

Forward: Dwight Howard, Rockets
16.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG. PER: 18.30

Forward: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
23.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.6 BPG. PER: 25.24

Eastern Conference

Starters

Guard: John Wall, Wizards
17.2 PPG, 10.1 APG, 4.4 RPG. PER: 20.85

Guard: Kyle Lowry, Raptors
19. 4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.9 RPG. PER: 21.86

Forward: LeBron James, Cavaliers

26.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.6 RPG. PER: 26.21

Forward: Paul Millsap, Hawks
17.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.9 BPG. PER: 20.41

Forward: Pau Gasol, Bulls

18.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.2 BPG, PER: 22.28

Reserves

Guard: Jeff Teague, Hawks
17.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.6 RPG. PER: 22.30

Guard: Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
22.1 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.1 RPG. PER: 21.11

Guard: Jimmy Butler, Bulls

20.1 PPG, 3.3 APG, 6.0 RPG. PER: 20.98

Guard: Dwyane Wade, Heat

21.8 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.8 RPG. PER: 22.55

Forward: Nikola Vucevic, Magic

19.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 0.8 BPG. PER: 22.17

Forward: Chris Bosh, Heat

21.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.6 BPG. PER: 21.04

Forward: Al Horford, Hawks

15.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG. PER: 21.52 

*Stats Accurate as of 1/29/15
*Bold indicates league-leader

NBA Player Rank 2014: Nos. 40-31

40.       Klay Thompson (SG) - Golden State Warriors

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 18.4

REB 3.1

ASST 2.2

FG% 44.4

The off-guard in Golden State's "Splash Brothers" duo, Thompson helps form the NBA's premier backcourt with teammate Stephen Curry. Thompson knocked down 223 three-pointers in 2014, a career-high from behind the arc. The third-year guard registered career-bests in points per game and field goal (44.4) and three-point percentage (41.7). One of the league's top shooters, Thompson is also a steadily improving wing defender, a major reason the Warriors refuse to deal the guard in a package deal for Minnesota forward Kevin Love.

39.       Kemba Walker (PG) - Charlotte Bobcats

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.7

REB 4.2

ASST 6.1

FG% 39.3

Proclaimed a "bust" in his rookie season (2012) by basketball pundits, Walker has improved his game tremendously in each of his past two seasons. Walker's scoring ballooned from 2012 (12.1) to 2013 (17.7), though the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) remained a bottom dweller in the Eastern Conference in both seasons. Emerging as the leader of the club in 2014, Walker led the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2010.

38.       Kawhi Leonard (SF) - San Antonio Spurs

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 12.8

REB 6.2

ASST 2.0

FG% 52.2

Leonard's prowess as a defender lands him a spot in the top-40. Though, it should be noted that the third-year forward trailed only LeBron James in shooting percentage among NBA small forwards.

37.       Lance Stephenson (SG) - Indiana Pacers

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 13.8

REB 7.2

ASST 4.6

FG% 49.1

Stephenson finished second in the voting for Most Improved Player in 2014, with the league taking notice of his strides on both sides of the ball. A surefire hot commodity in the upcoming free agency, Stephenson has shown flashes of being an elite player. The fourth-year guard will likely command upwards of $10 million on the open market this offseason. 

36.       Zach Randolph (PF) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.4

REB 10.1

ASST 2.5

FG% 46.7

Randolph averaged a double-double for the fourth time in five seasons as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. His 47 double-doubles were tied for fourth-most among all NBA players in 2014. With center Marc Gasol injured for 23 games this season, Randolph shouldered the load on the inside, helping the Grizzlies capture a playoff birth for the fourth consecutive year.

35.       Ty Lawson (PG) - Denver Nuggets

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.6

REB 3.5

ASST 8.8

FG% 43.1

One of the NBA's most under-appreciated players, Lawson finished in a second-place tie for assists per contest in 2014. Along with forward Kenneth Faried, Lawson is part of the nucleus for the rebuilding Nuggets. 

34.       Pau Gasol (PF/C) - Los Angeles Lakers

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.4

REB 9.7

ASST 3.4

FG% 48.0

Amid the Lakers' turmoil, Gasol quietly had another strong season in Los Angeles. The free-agent-to-be ranked 11th in NBA defensive efficiency and his nightly offensive output will make him one of the most attractive big man options on the market this offseason. 

33.       Mike Conley (PG) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 17.2

REB 2.9

ASST 6.0

FG% 45.0

The unheralded point guard lifted his scoring totals by nearly three points per contest in 2014. A key defensive cog in the Grizzlies' stifling defense, Conley spearheaded a near-upset over the heavily favored Thunder in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs. 

32.       Monta Ellis (SG) - Dallas Mavericks

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 19.0

REB 3.6

ASST 5.7

FG% 45.1

Ellis proved his doubters wrong with a career year in his inaugural season in Dallas. The 28-year-old guard provided Dirk Nowitzki with his most prolific sidekick since the glory days of Jason Terry. Ellis led the NBA in drives to the basket (and points on drives). He also led the Mavs in scoring (20.4) in their seven-game series against the Spurs.


31.       Marc Gasol (C) - Memphis Grizzlies

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 14.6

REB 7.2

ASST 3.6

FG% 47.3

The Grizzlies went just 9-14 in the absence of Gasol,the 2013 defensive player of the year. With Gasol in the lineup, however, the Grizzlies posted a terrific 41-18 record. The driving force behind the Grizzlies' resurgence, Gasol solidified the team's daunting frontcourt, ranking 19th in defensive player efficiency. 


*To be eligible for NBA Player Rank, players must appear in at least 40 games in 2013-2014 season.