Tyson Chandler’s Game-Winner Defines Grizzlies’ Season

By Keller Austin

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21888551

Tyson Chandler and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 26, 2017 in dramatic fashion. After Jarell Martin finished a putback dunk to tie the game at 97 following Tyreke Evans’ missed driving layup, Tyson Chandler made an alley-oop dunk off the inbounds pass from Dragan Bender with 0.6 seconds left in the game to defeat the Grizzlies. Chandler was the only Suns player in the paint and went over Brandan Wright to make the play. Devin Booker, the Suns’ star guard and usual late-game hero, finished with 32 points but fouled out of the game with 41 seconds left.

This play is the epitome of the Grizzlies’ season so far. At the time, the Suns’ victory pushed the Grizzlies to 10–24 on the season. It also made the Grizzlies 5–9 in games decided by five points or less. Now, the Grizzlies sit at 18–37 on the season, with a 7–13 record in games decided by five points or less. The Grizzlies also suffered an 11-game losing streak and a five-game losing streak through the course of the season and are currently on a six-game losing streak. Meanwhile their longest win streak is only three games, which they have done twice this season. In addition to losing close games, the Grizzlies are 1–8 in games decided by 15 points or more. Memphis will want to forget this season, but in order to be more competitive in the fierce Western Conference in the 2018–2019 season, the Grizzlies will need to win more of their close games while not being blown out so often.