Memphis Grizzlies roll over Oklahoma City Thunder 107-97: NBA Recap
Rudy g*y scored a season high 28 points while Zach Randolph had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-97 on Wednesday night. Marc Gasol added 14 points for the Grizzlies who improved their best start to the season as they won sixth game in a row.
Oklahoma City were outscored by 21 in the second quarter as Grizzlies took control of the game by half time and the Thunder never really threatened them in the second half.
Kevin Durant had a season high 34 points and Russell Westbrook scored 17 points and dished out 13 assists but the efforts of the Oklahoma City All-Stars went in vain on the night. This defeat also snapped their five match winning streak for last season’s NBA finalists.
Rudy g*y started the proceedings with a dunk which was countered immediately by Durant to tie the score at 2. The score was tied at 12 again after a Randolph layup for the Grizzlies, and then at 14, before Thunder went for a 12-2 burst to jump to 26-16. They maintained their 10 point advantage till the end of the period as they went into the break leading by 30-20.
Grizzlies started the second period strongly, going for an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 31-32. Thunder scored the next 4 points as they tried to slip away again but the Grizzlies were up on their heels as they replied with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 36. The score was tied at 41, four minutes from halftime, before the Grizzlies sprung into action and went for a quick 15-4 run to close the period at 56-45.
Grizzlies started pulling away and were up 65-49 early in the third period. The Thunder tried hard to cut the deficit but the Grizzlies kept on scoring and were up 73-59 after Mike Conley fired in a jump shot. Despite best efforts from OKC, Grizzlies did not let the advantage slip away and went into the final quarter leading 81-71.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks tightened up the rotation as he kept Durant and Westbrook on the court hoping for a repeat of the comeback win on Monday. But it was not to be as the Grizzlies did not let the Thunder come close in the final period.
The Grizzlies were up 97-84 when Thunder scored the next five points to slash the deficit to 89-97. But the Grizzlies kept their cool and a Randolph layup had them up 101-89. Grizzlies carried their advantage to a 107-97 win in the end.
There was a minor altercation late in the final period when Perkins and Randolph confronted during Russell Westbrook free throws and the referee ejected both of them.
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