Watch CBS News

Celtics Loss Gives Bulls 1 Game Lead

The push to be the best in the Eastern Conference is close, but now the Celtics have extended the gap. With Boston losing to the Grizzlies, the Bulls are now one game ahead of the Celtics sitting proud at no. 1.

Marc Gasol scored 11 points with 11 rebounds and Zach Randolph had 13 and eight to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 90-87 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Gasol stole the ball from Ray Allen and then hit a layup with just over a minute left to put Memphis ahead 88-85. After Gasol missed a pair of free throws with 4.6 seconds left and a chance to go up by five, Paul Pierce missed an off-balance 3-pointer that would have sent the game into overtime.

The victory helped Memphis solidify its hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Grizzlies (40-32) are just one-half game behind seventh-place New Orleans.

The Celtics (50-20) missed a chance to move into a tie with Chicago for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.