Memphis Grizzlies cruise to win over Portland Trail Blazers

The Memphis Grizzlies have secured back-to-back wins at the start of their first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers, beating their Western Conference rivals 97-82 to take a 2-0 lead.

The visitors made a strong start as they sought to level the series, opening up a 10-2 lead when LaMarcus Aldridge found the target with four of his first five shots.

Portland's lead was short-lived though as the Grizzlies dominated the second quarter, with Beno Udrih putting Memphis ahead midway through the period before Mike Conley extended the advantage.

Marc Gasol ensured that the hosts continued to build on their lead in the third quarter, before Damian Lillard started to chip away at the lead in the fourth, but the visitors could not get the gap back below nine.

Memphis, who have a 2-0 playoff lead for the first time in their history, travel to the Trail Blazers on Saturday for the third game of the series.