Memphis Grizzlies defeat Oklahoma City Thunder 101-93 - NBA Play-offs Update
Zach Randolph posted 21 points and collected a franchise play-off record 21 boards, as the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies took a 2-1 series lead with a 101-93 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-finals on Saturday.
Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo each poured in 18 points for Memphis, which bounced back from a 111-102 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Marc Gasol scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Grizzlies, who outscored the Thunder, 15-7, in extra-session.
Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins said he felt lucky to escape with a victory over the Thunder, "It was a great battle, and I just thought Oklahoma City played outstanding and had a great game plan. We were just fortunate by the grace of God to overcome
it."
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 23 points, 12 helpers and six rebounds. Kevin Durant donated 22 points and 12 boards for Oklahoma City, which saw their 16-point third-period advantage, disappear.
Oklahoma City Head Coach Scott Brooks said after the game, "I thought that was a game we had an excellent shot to win. But give them credit, they kept coming at us and did a better job executing down the stretch than we did."
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday, also in Memphis.
Oklahoma City held a 15-8 advantage on Durant’s Jumper with less than six minutes remaining in the opening period.
The Grizzlies then capped the period on a 14-5 burst. Mayo notched eight points during the flurry, including a layup with less than a minute to play for a 22-20 lead.
Trailing by one point, 31-30, with less than eight minutes left, Oklahoma City scored 10 straight points to regain their lead. Westbrook drove for a layup and hit a pair of free throws. James Harden and Serge Ibaka each then drained three-pointers to give
the Thunder a 40-31 advantage.
Both teams traded baskets in the remaining minutes of the second quarter and the Thunder took a 51-43 lead into the break.
Oklahoma City went on a 9-0 run midway through the third quarter to build a 16-point cushion. Westbrook ripped off the first seven points of the run and Durant’s jumper capped the stretch for a 68-52 advantage.
The Thunder held a 76-63 lead heading into the final quarter. Memphis then ripped off the first six points of the fourth period. Sam Young made a slam dunk with less than ten minutes left to move the Grizzlies to within seven points at 76-69.
Down by 11 points, 82-71 with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, the Grizzlies used an impressive 15-2 run to move ahead. Mayo and Conley both scored three-point plays around a Tony Allen’s slam to trim the Grizzlies’ deficit to 82-79.
Westbrook drilled a jumper with less than six minutes remaining that was the Thunder's final field goal of regulation. After that, jumpers from both Randolph and Conley made it a one-point contest. Allen then made 1-of-2 from the foul line to tie the game
at 84 with less than four minutes to play.
After less than a minute, Allen went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to give the Grizzlies a one-point lead. Conley then made 1-of-2 from the line to put Memphis up by two points, 86-84 with less than two minutes left.
With less than a minute to play, Westbrook hit a pair of free throws to equalise the game. Mayo missed a floater for the Grizzlies and the Thunder took a time-out with just 19 seconds left.
After Durant missed a jumper, Randolph made a three-point play to send the game into over-time.
The Grizzlies dominated early in over-time, as Allen drove for a layup and hit two foul shots around a Conley layup.
Memphis maintained its lead to seal the victory. The Grizzlies made 7-of-10 from the charity stripe in the last minute.
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