Grizzlies Clinch Playoff Berth

With a little help from the Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies have gained the first postseason berth in the franchise’s nine-year history.

Pau Gasol had 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Jason Williams scored eight points in the final three minutes to lead the Grizzlies to their fifth consecutive victory, 94-88 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Toronto.

But it wasn’t until the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz, 91-84, on Sunday night that the Grizzlies’ playoff berth was secured.

“It’s a great turnaround for the franchise,” Gasol said. “We’ve surprised ourselves. I can’t believe where we are at this point. It’s just wonderful.”

Memphis improved to 47-26, good enough for fifth place in the Western Conference.

“It’s wonderful for Mr. Heisley,” Memphis Coach Hubie Brown said of club owner Michael Heisley, who moved the franchise from Vancouver to Memphis three years ago and hired Jerry West as general manager two years ago.

“It just feels good to be on a winning team,” said Stromile Swift, who scored 18 points and is the only player remaining from the Vancouver era. “This is my fourth year. In Vancouver we didn’t win many games.”

The Grizzlies entered this season with an overall record of 152-472.

Vince Carter scored 16 points on six-for-22 shooting for Toronto, which lost its fourth in a row and remained in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. His layup with 2:36 left pulled Toronto to within four points, but Williams made two straight three-pointers to give the Grizzlies an 88-78 lead with 1:54 left.

Toronto’s Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose made layups, but Williams assisted on Swift’s dunk with 59 seconds left. Williams’ layup gave Memphis a 90-84 lead with 45 seconds left. Gasol made two free throws in the final 20 seconds.