NBA - Griz down Spurs, Lakers stung by Hornets' Paul (video)

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - The Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets finished seventh and eighth in the NBA's Western Conference but both won playoff openers on Sunday.

The Grizzlies tasted victory in the post-season for the first time in their history with a 101-98 upset of the top-seeded Spurs in Texas.

Zach Randolph had 25 points and 14 rebounds for Memphis and Spain center Marc Gasol contributed 24 points and nine boards.

The Grizzlies, who entered the league in 1995 as an expansion team when the NBA put them in Vancouver, Canada, had been 0-12 in play-off games.

After the club’s move to Memphis, they endured play-off sweeps three times and Shane Battier played on each of those teams.

He recently rejoined the Grizzlies in a trade with Houston.

"It was awesome," he said of the victory. "I'm really happy for the city.

"Beale Street will be a fun place tonight. Most of these guys don't know the history or the heartache that the city has gone through. I'm happy for the city."

The Spurs, playing without injured Argentinian Manu Ginobili, had led 98-94 after two George Hill free-throws.

Tony Allen then fed Gasol whose lay-up reduced the arrears to 98-96 and after Tony Parker missed a 16-foot jump shot, Battier drilled a three-ball to put the Grizzlies in front.

After a Hill miss, Gasol grabbed the rebound and Allen sank two free-throws for the victory.

San Antonio know they are going to have a fight on their hands for the rest of the series, too, because the two clubs split their four encounters during the regular season.

"We believe we can play with anybody," Randolph said.

Ginobili missed Game 1 with a sprained elbow.

The Lakers went down at home, too, to New Orleans.

Chris Paul, the gold-medal winning point guard on Team USA's 2008 Olympic team, had 33 points, 14 assists and four steals.

Carl Landry added 17 points, Jarrett Jack 15 and Marco Belinelli 10 for the Hornets.

Oklahoma City narrowly avoided going down at home in their opener.

They prevailed 107-103 with 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP Kevin Durant scoring 41 points.

Italy's Danilo Gallinari had made a 14-footer with 3:05 to go put Denver into a 101-100 lead.

A Kendrick Perkins tip-in followed by a Russell Westbrook jumper iced the win for the Thunder.

Boston had to pull out all stops to avoid losing at home in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

Ray Allen buried a go-ahead three-pointer with just 12 seconds left as the Celtics won 87-85 over the visiting Knicks.

Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort.

New York lost the co-captain on Team USA’s FIBA World Championship team last summer, Chauncey Billups, to a leg injury in the last minute.

"We've got a couple of days and I'll just be treating it as long as I can," Billups said.

"If I can get out there and help any, I'll be out there."

Sunday's Top 10

In Saturday's games, the Atlanta Hawks sprung a 103-93 upset of the Orlando Magic despite Dwight Howard scoring 46 points and corralling 19 rebounds for the hosts.

In another Eastern Conference game, the Indiana Pacers threatened an upset of top seed Chicago before the Bulls won 104-99.

Another Team USA star, Derrick Rose, had 39 points for Chicago.

Miami had to dig deep to win Game 1 against Philadelphia, 97-89.

Chris Bosh finished with 25 points for the Heat.

In the only Western Conference opener on Saturday, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and 10 boards for Dallas as the Mavs won 89-81 over Portland.

Saturday's Top 10

On Monday night, Miami host Philadelphia in Game 2 while the Pacers will try to level their series at Chicago.

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