It was the other play of the night. And it wasn’t Travis Outlaw throwing down on Rudy Gay.

For a team floating in the dregs of the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies weren’t going to let Portland walk through FedEx Forum without putting up a fight. But swing as they might, the Allen Iverson-less Grizzlies’ fortunes changed with one botched lay-up.

Memphis led by one point in the third quarter. Then their youth and experience got in the way. Sounds familiar. But this time Portland was on the other end.

Brandon Roy sank a three-pointer triggered from a missed Mike Conley wild basket toss, Greg Oden packed the paint for an easy score soon after, Andre Miller quickly back-doored Memphis for a lay-up, and Roy went déjà vu all over again from beyond the arc and suddenly Portland was up by nine points.

It was a done deal after that, on a Blazers sequence of plays that will go easily overlooked in their win.

It shouldn’t. No doubt Travis Outlaw left the masses in awe with his second quarter tomahawk dunk on Rudy Gay. Heck, even Gay stood slack jawed afterwards. It certainly was an impressive dunk within the 93-79 win. Outlaw’s scowl swag running down the court said it all. Bu it wasn’t the difference maker.

That came in the third quarter.

Given this was the Memphis Grizzlies.

Given Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge - and even Greg Oden in the second half - looked all-star-ish.

Given the on-going Iverson distraction plaguing Memphis.

Given the Blazers actually trailed in that third quarter on the road against a much inferior team at the start of a five-game roadie.

Portland might not put Memphis away without the “Roy-Oden-Miller-Roy” exchange in the third quarter.

Looking Ahead To Minnesota

While the Grizzlies stomach another loss, Portland's next foe - the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night - aren't going to tolerate a "lack of fight" according to Wolves General Manager David Kahn.

"I don't want to sugarcoat what I feel was a lack of fight from our team Monday night," Kahn recently said of the Wolves' 146-105 loss. "It's inexcusable and unacceptable, for any one game, for us not to put up the requisite fight. I hope it does not become a pattern. If it does, it will be remedied. We will not spend an entire season tolerating that."

That speaks the truth. He didn't sugarcoat it.

Good for him.

Portland took out the Wolves on Sunday at the Rose Garden. Now you have to wonder how long before Kahn takes out some players if losses continue to mount.

photo: espn

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