Courtney Lee (5) helped the Grizzlies take a 2-0 lead over the Trail Blazers. (Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The starting backcourt of Mike Conley and Courtney Lee combined for 36 points and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 97-82 Wednesday night at FedExForum to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
The Trail Blazers, who lost Game 1 by 14 points, were never closer than nine points in the fourth quarter.
Memphis also swept the regular-season series 4-0.
Conley scored 18 points with six assists and Lee had 18 points and three steals.
Memphis center Marc Gasol finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Power forward Zach Randolph scored 10 points with 10 rebounds.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 24 points and 14 rebounds. He also had four blocks and two steals. Point guard Damian Lillard scored 18 points.
Portland finished with just 11 assists to 14 turnovers, which led to 16 Memphis points.
Hawks 96, Nets 91
ATLANTA — All-Star forward Paul Millsap shed some protective padding and found his shooting touch.
Millsap scored 19 points, helping the Hawks stave off a late rally by the Nets and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Games 3 and 4 are Saturday and Monday at Brooklyn.
Millsap ditched the pad that had been protecting his injured shoulder Wednesday and returned to form, connecting on seven of 11 field-goal tries, including all four of his 3-point attempts.
Guard Jarrett Jack led Brooklyn with 23 points. The Nets got within one point with 45 seconds left and were down by two when guard Deron Williams missed a 13-foot shot with eight seconds left that would have tied it.
