Kevin Durant’s performances in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies - Part 1
Kevin Durant has been the league’s top scorer for the second year running. He is an All-Star and the very face by which the Oklahoma City Thunder are recognized. The 22-year-old small forward has been exceptional this post-season.
He was the main reason; OKC emphatically brushed off the Denver Nuggets in the first round series. And then, in a marathon series with the tenacious Memphis Grizzlies, it was Durant, who finally propelled OKC into the Conference finals. The lanky sharpshooter
averaged 26.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during the series against the Grizzlies.
Here is a review of his performances during the Western Conference semi-finals:
Team-high 33 points in Game 1
On May 1, Oklahoma City took on the Grizzlies for the game-1 of the best-of-seven semi-final series. As expected, the game panned out to be a tussle between Zach Randolph and Kevin Durant. The duo were head to head for most part
of the game, but Randolph turned the Heat during the crunch time as the Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 114-101. Durant finished with a team-high 33 points and 11 rebounds on that night.
Game-high 26 points in Game 2
The two-time All Star Durant led all scorers with 26 points, including 8-for-10 shooting from the foul line, as Oklahoma City cruised past the Grizzlies 111-102 in the second game of the semi-finals. The victory evened up the best-of-seven
series at a game apiece.
Durant did most of his damages in the third quarter when he scored 10 straight points.
22 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3
The eighth-seeded Memphis managed to win the third game of the series after defeating Oklahoma City 101-93 at the FedEx Forum. In this game, Durant scored 22 points, 12 rebounds, but failed to click in the crucial fourth quarter.
He then froze infront of the Grizzlies defense in the overtime, going 2-for-10 for four points.
35 points and 13 rebounds in Game 4
Durant had 35 points and 13 rebounds and the Thunder downed the Grizzlies 133-123 in a triple-overtime marathon to even the series at two games each. Durant’s shooting was not up to the mark as he shot just 7-for-18 for 29 points
till the first two overtimes. However, he got his shooting touch back in the third overtime and blew the Grizzlies away with a quick 6 point blitz. Durant had a breath-taking assist out of the double team, scored a floater, and ended the run with a fade away
jumper in order to help the team to seal the victory.
Durant declared the game as the biggest contest of his life and said, "It is something people are going to be talking about for a while. I am glad I am a part of it. ... It's was the biggest game of my life. I just wanted to take
advantage of it. I wanted to leave everything on the court and be satisfied with the results. Just the stakes of the game and the level of the competition. It definitely is one of the best games I have played in and competed in. It was a fun game.''
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