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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Steve Francis takes credit
for helping seal the Grizzlies fate in Vancouver, and he was on
hand for their final game to let everyone know about it.
|  | | Fans deliver a message during what likely was the Grizzlies' final home game in Vancouver. |
He walked to the scorer's table at the start of the fourth
quarter of Houston's 100-95 victory Saturday night and made a
prediction.
"It's the final quarter of basketball in Vancouver," he said.
"Watch me light it up." Francis only hit three free throws in 11
fourth-quarter minutes, but the Rockets got eight points from
Moochie Norris to seal the win.
Francis, the Grizzlies' first-round pick of the 1999 draft who
forced a trade to the Rockets, said before Saturday's game that he
"pioneered" the possible relocation of the franchise. The
Grizzlies have applied to move to Memphis next season.
Francis has been the focus of frustration on the part of
Grizzlies fans ever since the move.
A fan ran onto the court and in the direction of Francis in the
game's final minute, but did not get close to him before being
subdued by security. Francis was taken out of the game seconds
later and left immediately for the locker room.
"I think I was the pioneer to get (the Grizzlies) out of
here," Francis told the Houston Chronicle. "I hope the Vancouver
players are thankful."
Francis confirmed the remarks after the victory with the
Rockets' director of security, James Haywood, at his side.
Shandon Anderson was one of five starters in double figures,
scoring 15 points for the Rockets, who were eliminated from
postseason contention last week.
"It's been great to come up in the role of a villain," said
Francis, who finished with 14 points. "Too bad (the Grizzlies)
aren't gonna be here."
"He relishes the role of villain," said Houston coach Rudy
Tomjanovich, who was more pleased by the fact his team overcame a
19-point second-half deficit. "I wasn't sure if this game was
going to be played in a tough neighborhood or the suburbs. This was
definitely a tough neighborhood."
The Grizzlies did not formally acknowledge that the team was
likely playing its last game in Vancouver, but there were telltale
signs throughout the contest. Highlights of their miserable run in
Vancouver were played during most timeouts on video boards.
No members of management addressed the crowd, but Shareef
Abdur-Rahim, clearly the best player in franchise history, spoke
after the game to fans, who were largely positive in their support.
"That (support) didn't surprise me," said Vancouver veteran
Tony Massenburg, one of the few free agents to re-sign with the
Grizzlies. "I've been a lot of places. I've closed out a lot of
arenas but this one was different because of the circumstances."
"I won't even pretend to understand what the fans are going
through," said teammate Grant Long. "From a fan's standpoint they
are saddened by it and we are too."
Game notes
The loss left the Grizzlies with a lifetime home record of
66-220 (.300), the worst percentage among the 65 franchises in
league history. At 100-358 overall, the Grizzlies will also be last
in league history regardless of the outcome of their final two road
games. ... The crowd of 18,571 was 622 fans short of a sellout,
which would have been only the third of the season. The team
finished its sixth season with an average attendance of 13,737,
which is better than three other teams this season. The last NBA
team to relocate was after the 1984-85 season when the Kansas City
Kings moved to Sacramento. In their final season in Kansas City,
the Kings had only five crowds in excess of 10,000.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
Grizzlie demise
Memphis' attempt to attract NBA team challenged in court
RECAPS
Detroit 129
Atlanta 124
Milwaukee 112
Toronto 86
San Antonio 111
Denver 95
Houston 100
Vancouver 95
LA Clippers 106
Golden State 94
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