Off Topic » Marc Gasol with a victory over one of the leagues

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies celebrated the return of Marc Gasol with a victory over one of the leagues top teams -- and one of their biggest rivals. Courtney Lee scored a season-high 24 points, including the closing two free throws, and the Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 90-87 on Tuesday night in Gasols first game in almost eight weeks. While Lee provided the early offensive punch for Memphis, many teammates were talking about the return of the Gasol, the leagues reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who missed 23 games with a left knee injury. The 7-foot-1 centre played 24 minutes and finished with 12 points. "Everybody is excited, especially for him," said guard Mike Conley, who had 19 points and seven assists in Memphis third straight victory. "Hes been itching to get out there forever, and I thought he did great. It gave us a good boost." Gasol, whose return was not announced until just before the game, received a rousing ovation from the Memphis crowd when he was introduced with the starting lineup. He said the cheers gave him "goose bumps" and made him feel like a rookie again. He said the knee did not bother him, but the large knee brace he is wearing is uncomfortable. "It felt really good, especially since we got the win," Gasol said of the knee. "That makes everything worth it." Zach Randolph had 23 points and 13 rebounds on the night his inside partner returned. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 37 points, converting 15 of 28 shots. Reggie Jackson scored 17, but also committed seven of Oklahoma Citys 19 turnovers. Serge Ibaka finished with 11 points and four blocks as the Thunder lost their third in the last four. Durant, who has dealt with an aching left wrist and did not practice Monday, had ice on it after the game, but said he did not aggravate the injury. Lee converted a 22-footer from the right wing as time ran out in the third period to help Memphis carry a 72-67 lead into the final frame. Memphis, which trailed 47-43 at the break, converted 10 of 18 shots in the third, while the Thunder managed only 9 of 22. That led to the Grizzlies outscoring Oklahoma City 29-20 in the period. Memphis still held the lead at 87-84 with less than a minute left. Jackson missed a 4-foot runner, then Gasol missed a 7-footer in the lane for Memphis. Oklahoma City had the ball after a timeout with 20 seconds left. Durant drove and kicked the ball out to Ibaka, who missed a 3-pointer from the left corner. "I seen (the defender) come off of Serge and he was wide open, and I trust him 100 per cent," Durant said. "That shot looked good, but it hit the side rim and rimmed out. "Great shot. Weve just got to live with the results." Randolph split a pair of free throws with 10.6 seconds remaining for an 88-84 lead, enough that Ibakas 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left wasnt enough. Lees free throws provided the final margin. "Courtney Lee had his way," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "We didnt do a good job of starting the game off on him. Throughout the game, he sprinkled in some good shots." The Thunder weathered an early burst of points from Lee, who had 14 in the first quarter as Memphis built a 12-point lead. Oklahoma City erased the advantage with a 15-1 rally spanning the first and second quarters. NOTES: The Grizzlies went 10-13 when Gasol was out of the lineup. ... Despite travelling with the team and warming up before the game, Thunder G Russell Westbrook remained on the inactive list recovering from right knee surgery. ... Lees previous season high was 18 on Dec. 13 against the Knicks when he was with Boston. ... Thunder C Kendrick Perkins now has almost as many fouls (105) as points scored this season (117). ... The game marked only the fourth time this season the Thunder has lost when outrebounding their opponent. Cheap Heat Jerseys .C. -- Unable to get much lift off his sore right ankle, Bobcats centre Al Jefferson figured it was time to make an adjustment. Justise Winslow Jersey . Cabrera is hitting .218 with three homers and 16 RBI in 80 games this season. The Padres recalled second baseman Brooks Conrad from Triple-A El Paso to replace Cabrera on the roster. http://www.cheapheatjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-shaquille-oneal-jersey . The former Edmonton Oilers defenceman was with the St. Louis Blues in training camp on a professional tryout. Whitney, 30, had four goals and 13 points in 34 games with the Oilers last season. Josh Richardson Jersey . After a 10-game skid, winning sure feels good. Atlantas third error in the last two innings allowed Jackie Bradley Jr. Alonzo Mourning Jersey . Rooneys latest piece of football genius lost in the furore which now stalks David Moyes, and the man who gave the Manchester United striker his start as a 16-year old at Goodison Park back in 2002.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Ottawa Senators try to avoid a third straight setback on Tuesday night as they visit the Florida Panthers, a team they have had a ton of success against lately. The Sens are coming off an emotionally-filled 4-2 setback to Detroit on Sunday as Red Wings forward Daniel Alfredsson made his first trip back to Ottawa since leaving as a free agent this past offseason. Alfredsson was honored with a pregame video tribute and a standing ovation before later capping his return with an empty-net goal. Clarke MacArthur and Mika Zibanejad lit the lamp for the Senators, who stumbled to their sixth loss in eight. Robin Lehner stopped 19 pucks in defeat. "Theyre a team that if you give them those opportunities, theyre going to take advantage of them. They took what we gave them and they made it the difference," Ottawa head coach Paul MacLean said. Zibanejad has tried to be a difference-maker for the Senators as he scored in his third straight game. The sixth overall pick of the 2011 draft has eight goals and 11 points in 19 games this season, while MacArthur has tallied five goals and eight points in his previous seven contests. Ottawa recalled center Mike Hoffman from Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Monday and the 24-year-olds 26 points ranked second in the AHL at the time of his call up. Hoffman skated with Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan during practice on Monday, while MacArthur joined Jason Spezza and Zibanejad on a line. MacLean maay give Craig Anderson the start tonight given that the goaltender is 9-1-1 with a 1.dddddddddddd.90 goals against average and two shutouts in 12 prior meetings with the Panthers. However, Anderson was lifted early in a loss to Vancouver last Thursday. Lehner is 1-1-0 with a 3.01 GAA in two meetings with Florida, beating the Panthers on Nov. 9 with 26 saves. Zibanejad, MacArthur and Turris all scored in the home win for Ottawa, which has won 12 of its last 14 versus Florida. The Sens have also won six of their past eight in Sunrise. Tim Thomas made 29 saves in the loss for Florida. Recently, Thomas did not make it past the second period in Saturdays 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, yielding four goals on 13 shots in his 11th consecutive start. Scott Clemmensen halted all eight shots he faced in relief. Scottie Upshall scored the lone goal for the Panthers, who lost despite outshooting the Penguins 40-22. "The mistakes went back to us again," Panthers interim head coach Peter Horachek said. "We have to decide if were going to be a mentally focused team. We have 40 shots; we outchance them, we outshoot them, they capitalize on their opportunities. A good team does that." Florida fell to 1-2-0 on a five-game homestand that concludes on Thursday versus Winnipeg and is 4-6-3 overall as the hosting club this season. Thomas fell to 23-10-2 with a 2.01 GAA and six shutouts in 35 career meetings with the Senators in the recent loss. 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