Quick Facts
- Date: April 17, 2011
- Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
- Matchup: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (Western Conference First Round, Game 1)
- Final Score: Memphis 101, San Antonio 98
- Key Figures: Shane Battier (go‑ahead 3 with 23.9 seconds left), Zach Randolph (25 points, 14 rebounds), Marc Gasol (24 points, 9 rebounds), Coach Lionel Hollins
- Milestone: First playoff victory in franchise history after an 0–12 postseason record in prior appearances
Main Story
On April 17, 2011, the Memphis Grizzlies earned the franchise’s first‑ever playoff win, a 101–98 road victory over the 61‑win San Antonio Spurs. In a tight fourth quarter, Shane Battier rose to the moment, knocking down a go‑ahead three‑pointer with 23.9 seconds remaining. Zach Randolph powered the offense with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Marc Gasol added efficient scoring inside. The win ended Memphis’s previous postseason drought (0–12 across 2004–2006) and gave the 8‑seed Grizzlies a 1–0 lead in a best‑of‑seven against the West’s top seed.
Box score records confirm the setting and scoreline at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Contemporary game reports note Battier’s decisive shot and the Grizzlies’ defensive stands on the final Spurs possessions. The victory resonated well beyond the court, energizing fans from Beale Street to neighborhoods across the 901 and signaling that Memphis could compete—and win—on the NBA’s biggest stage.
Legacy
The breakthrough in San Antonio set the tone for a landmark series that Memphis won in six games—its first playoff series triumph—and helped solidify the club’s blue‑collar, defense‑driven ethos often summarized as “Grit and Grind.” In Memphis history, this win is remembered as the moment the Grizzlies stopped chasing respect and started earning it, shaping how the city and team saw each other. The identity that took root in 2011—celebrated by the franchise and embraced across the Bluff City—continues to influence how Memphis basketball is played, promoted, and loved.
For the Grizzlies and their fans, April 17, 2011, remains a civic milestone—an early spark in a defining era that connected team and community in the heart of the 901.
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