BOSTON — The scrappy Boston Celtics, still alive and kicking in the battle for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, stunned the Memphis Grizzlies, the team with the NBA’s third-best record, 95-92, on Wednesday night.
Playing without injured guard Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics outscored the Grizzlies, No. 2 in the West, 8-2 over the final 51.6 seconds to win for the third time in the last four games. The victory closed Boston to within a game of the eighth-place Charlotte Hornets in the East.
The win was the 27th of the season for the Celtics, two more than they had all last season, Brad Stevens’ first as an NBA coach.
Rookie guard Marcus Smart, 0-for-6 from the floor before scoring with 3:50 left, converted an old-fashioned 3-point play off an inbounds pass to put Boston ahead to stay with 51.6 on the clock. Center Tyler Zeller was then fouled on a rebound and made two free throws with 39.8 left to make it 93-90.
Former Celtics forward Jeff Green then converted his own rebound with 29 seconds remaining but guard Avery Bradley nailed a long 3-pointer to put it away with 7.9 seconds left.
Bradley led the Celtics with 17 points despite going 1-for-8 from 3-point range. Forwards Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk came off the bench with 16 and 15 points, respectively, Olynyk with six rebounds and both players with three assists. Zeller had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Guard Mike Conley, carried off the court by teammates after suffering an apparent leg injury in the third quarter, returned in the fourth and hit eight points in the final 6:55. He led the Grizzlies (45-19) with 20 points, while former Celtics guard Tony Allen had 16 points and forward Zach Randolph 14 points and eight rebounds.
Memphis was 13 of 13 from the foul line but didn’t shoot a free throw in the fourth quarter and lost while turning the ball over 21 times.
The Celtics, normally careful with the ball, turned it over 17 times.
Boston built an eight-point lead in the first half but the teams stumbled and fumbled to a 39-39 tie at the break — Memphis turning the ball over 12 times and Boston nine.
Bradley started the second half with a slam dunk but the Celtics failed to score for almost four minutes as the visitors took a three-point lead. But Bradley’s jumper sent Boston on its way to an 11-4 run that put the Celtics ahead by six midway through the third quarter.
Memphis called timeout after Bradley stole the ball, got it to Turner, who then hit Bass with a behind-the-back pass that led to a two-hand slam. Conley was injured on the play; and Memphis responded with a run to take the lead, but the Celtics took a one-point lead at the end of three on a tough jumper by Olynyk.
NOTES: G Isaiah Thomas, who has provided so much production and excitement since coming to the Celtics, was out with bruised right elbow and lower back suffered on a fall after a hard hit by Dwyane Wade on Monday night and is very doubtful for games Friday and Saturday. “It’s his bruised lower back, there’s a lot of swelling and it’s been an uncomfortable two days for him,” coach Brad Stevens said. Meanwhile, G Avery Bradley, who missed the three-game road trip with an elbow injury, returned. … The Grizzlies are loaded with former Celtics after F Jeff Green joined Gs Tony Allen and Courtney Lee at the trade deadline. Green exchanged embraces with former teammate during warmups and received a warm ovation when introduced. … The Grizzlies are at Washington on Thursday night and the Celtics host the Orlando Magic on Friday. … Boston G Marcus Smart received his February rookie of the month award before the game.