Spurs Simply Too Tough for Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies’ first playoff experience was not worth the wait.

The San Antonio Spurs, giving the Grizzlies a harsh initiation into postseason play, got 26 points from Tim Duncan and took control early in a 98-74 victory Saturday night at San Antonio.

The Spurs used their size advantage to produce easy inside baskets for Duncan, while their relentless defense shut down Pau Gasol and held Memphis to its worst shooting percentage of the season (34.8).

Eighteen of San Antonio’s first 25 points came from inside the paint, and the Spurs finished with 50 points inside.

The win was the 12th in a row for the Spurs and their 14th in a row at home, coming against a team that beat them three times in the regular season.

Memphis, which entered the league in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, did not qualify for the postseason or win more than 28 games in its first eight seasons.

Gasol, the Grizzlies’ leading scorer, made only three of 11 shots and finished with 14 points.

Two free throws by Gasol midway through the first quarter gave the Grizzlies their only lead, 8-6. Duncan then went over Mike Miller for a layup to tie the score and start an 11-0 run.

Gasol, guarded mostly by Duncan, was held without a basket until he made a driving layup with 19 seconds left in the half.

New Jersey 107, New York 83 -- The Nets pounded the Knicks forcefully and flagrantly at East Rutherford, N.J., in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference series.

Jason Kidd took his anger out after being shoved to the court by a backup guard, and Jason Collins knocked Tim Thomas out of the game on a flagrant foul in the fourth quarter.

Kidd channeled his annoyance at being sent sprawling by Frank Williams into a 14-point, 13-assist performance.

The two-time defending Eastern Conference champions shot nearly 60% in the first half and used their defense to put the game away in the second half, holding New York to 28 points.

Indiana 104, Boston 88 -- The Pacers refused to let a big lead slip away this time.

Jermaine O’Neal had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Ron Artest had 24 points and provided stellar defense on Paul Pierce to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Last season, Pierce scored 21 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the opening-round series, helping the Celtics overcome a 16-point deficit and get the victory on their way to eliminating the Pacers in six games.

Pierce scored 11 points in the first quarter, but Artest held him to one-of-10 shooting in the final three quarters.