MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to make J.B. Bickerstaff their next head coach, removing the interim tag from his title.The Grizzlies did not disclose terms Tuesday of Bickerstaff's new deal. He will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday.Bickerstaff was the associate head coach when Memphis fired David Fizdale in late November of his second season. Guard Mike Conley had season-ending surgery to repair his left heel and Achilles tendon, and the Grizzlies finished the season at 22-60 for the second-worst record in the NBA behind only Phoenix.They had to win their regular season home finale to avoid the worst record since relocating to Memphis for the 2001-02 season. But they should wind up with their highest draft pick since 2009.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A season that opened with such promise for the Grizzlies wound up as one of the franchise's worst since moving to Memphis.The Grizzlies couldn't have started better than 5-1, sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings with a pair of early wins over the Houston Rockets and a home victory over the Golden State Warriors. By the end, the Grizzlies' hopes of an eighth straight postseason appearance turned to hopefully landing a top two pick in June's NBA draft.When the injuries started, most notably what wound up a season-ending left heel-Achilles tendon injury to point guard Mike Conley, the season imploded. And kept getting worse through multiple double-digit losing streaks. The first long slide cost coach David Fizdale his job after a short tenure and leaving interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff at the helm.The change didn't help as the Grizzlies lost 19 straight between early February and mid-March — the longest skid since the team moved to Memphis in 2001."It's... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Robert Pera has sent a formal notice to the NBA office that he plans to buy out two minority partners and remain controlling owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.The Grizzlies announced Monday night that Pera both alerted the league office and shared his decision in a letter to season-ticket holders in which he also confirmed his commitment to Memphis.The two partners triggered a "buy-sell" clause from 2012 when Pera, the founder of Ubiquiti Networks, bought the team with a handful of minority owners. The clause required Pera to either buy out the shareholders or sell Steve Kaplan and Daniel Straus his portion of the Grizzlies.The Commercial Appeal shared a copy of Pera's email to season-ticket holders where he shared his commitment to Memphis and the Grizzlies."I am committed to Memphis as an NBA market and as the home of the Grizzlies," Pera wrote. "We recognize that this has been a trying season for you as fans. That serves to reinforce our dedication to building a successful... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies say guard Mike Conley will have season-ending surgery to smooth a bone in his left heel and is expected to return healthy for next season's training camp.The Grizzlies made the announcement Saturday, hours after New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins seriously hurt his left Achilles tendon.Conley has not played since Nov. 13 after starting 12 of Memphis' first 14 games this season. The Grizzlies announced Nov. 17 that Conley was out indefinitely with a sore left heal and Achilles tendon. Conley averaged 17.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 31.1 minutes in his 11th NBA season. He has been playing an average of 31.1 minutes each game.The Grizzlies wrote Jan. 18 on Twitter that Conley had started playing 3-on-3 with teammates.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

G Mike Conley is traveling with the team and has taken part in practices, as well as a pregame workout before Saturday's contest at Golden State, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported. Conley has missed 24 straight games with a left heel injury.

PG Mike Conley (Achilles soreness) missed a 23rd straight game. The Grizzlies fell to 4-19 in those games and to 55-97 (.362) when Conley has been out of the lineup in his career.

G Mike Conley, who has missed the past 22 games with a sore left Achilles, is practicing and improving, Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. However, no date is set for Conley's return.

G Mike Conley missed his ninth consecutive game Saturday against the Cavaliers with left Achilles soreness.

G Mike Conley said he likely will miss three more weeks with a sore left Achilles. Conley has not played since Nov. 15. "It's tough," he said. "Anything that has to do with your heel takes longer to heal. I just have to give it time." The Grizzlies are 0-7 without Conley in the lineup this season.

G Mike Conley was held to 12 points in Saturday's loss at Houston after scoring at least 20 points in his previous three games.

G Mike Conley scored all 20 of his points in the second half in the Grizzlies' win at Portland on Tuesday. Memphis coach David Fizdale was pleased with his team's defense and the second-half production of Conley, who was 0-for-7 from the field in the first half. "Marc (Gasol) was phenomenal back there, patrolling and quarterbacking our defense," Fizdale said. "Then Mike really got it going there in the second half and carried us for stretches."

DETROIT -- For the first time since the 2008-09 season, the Detroit Pistons are off to a 7-3 start following a 108-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.The Pistons, who are 4-1 at home, have played in front of paltry crowds so far in their new home, Little Caesars Arena, but hope that their recent hot streak will bring more fans to the turnstiles.Detroit has now won five of its last six games and improved to 2-0 on the start of a five-game homestand.Avery Bradley led the way with 24 points, Harris scored 20 points, and Andre Drummond had 16 points and 19 rebounds.The Kings lost their seventh straight game and have started 1-8 for the first time since the 1990-91 season.Pelicans 96, Bulls 90 (OT)CHICAGO -- Anthony Davis collected 27 points and 16 rebounds and DeMarcus Cousins scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds as New Orleans won for the second straight night to get to .500 on the season.Jameer Nelson scored 13 points for New Orleans, and his long shot with 48 seconds left in... [More]

G Mike Conley returned after missing Wednesday's game to rest a sore Achilles. He finished with 22 points in 33:05 during Saturday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

PG Mike Conley did not play to rest a sore Achilles before starting a five-game road trip. "Early in the season, no need to push something like that," coach David Fizdale said.

G Mike Conley finished with 16 points. His back-to-back three-point plays in the closing minute gave the Grizzlies their halftime advantage.

G Mike Conley finished with 22 points and four assists in what ultimately was a hard-fought 96-91 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

DALLAS -- Stephen Curry escaped a suspension from the league on Monday night, then led the Golden State Warriors to a 133-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.Curry had to wait until Monday afternoon to get a verdict from the NBA office whether he would be allowed to play. During Golden State's 10-point loss at Memphis on Saturday, he lost his cool and chucked his mouthpiece in the direction of the referee.Once he learned he would get only a fine, the two-time league MVP finished with a game-high 29 points. He made up for cold 3-point shooting (2 of 10) by going 13 of 13 from the free-throw line to help the Warriors improve to 2-2 on the season.Kevin Durant finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Klay Thompson added 21 points for Golden State. Draymond Green had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.Grizzlies 98, Rockets 90HOUSTON -- Mike Conley keyed a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to help Memphis rally for a victory over Houston.With... [More]

G Mike Conley keyed a 13-0 run down the stretch to help Memphis erase a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit for a 98-90 win over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.Conley entered the final period with just five points after missing all five shots from the field. However, after the Rockets (3-1) secured an 88-78 lead on a James Harden finger roll with 6:22 remaining, Conley sandwiched two 3-pointers around a three-point play from James Ennis III on which Conley provided the assist.The first Conley 3-pointer pulled the Grizzlies even at 88-88 with 3:02 left to play. His second answered a Clint Capela alley-oop dunk and extended Memphis' lead to 94-90 at the 2:03 mark.Conley scored 12 points on 3-for-5 shooting in the fourth. He finished the night with 17 points.

G Mike Conley scored 27 points in Wednesday's 103-91 victory over New Orleans.

The Memphis Grizzlies showed their appreciation to Zach Randolph on Thursday by announcing that the veteran forward/center will be the first player in franchise history to have his No. 50 jersey retired.The Grizzlies announced the move in an open letter to Randolph, two days removed from the two-time All-Star ending his eight-year tenure with the club by agreeing to a two-year, $24 million deal with the Sacramento Kings."Thank you for all the joy and magical moments too numerous to count," the letter read in part. "Thank you for the energy and excitement you brought each and every night to FedExForum. Thank you for your leadership and service. Thank you for your larger than life impact and for keeping all Memphians warm. Thank you."The open letter was signed by general manager Chris Wallace and president of business operations Jason Wexler.Majority owner Robert Pera stated on the team's official Twitter account that No. 50 "will never be worn by another member of the Memphis Grizzlies." He also thanked Randolph for helping "turn a lottery team into a perennial playoff contender" and helping "make a basketball team a model of community service."Randolph ranks first in franchise history in rebounds (5,612) and is second behind Mike Conley in points (9,261). The 35-year-old excelled in a reserve role last season, averaging 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds.With Sacramento, Randolph reunites with Dave Joerger, his former coach with the Grizzlies.