National Basketball Association play-offs Sunday’s Roundup: Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat win
Memphis Grizzlies 114 – Oklahoma City Thunder 101
After defeating the San Antonio Spurs for a first round exit, the resurgent Memphis Grizzlies stole the home-court advantage from the spirited Oklahoma City Thunder followed by an enthralling 114-101 victory at the Oklahoma City Arena on Sunday night.
The instrumental forward Zach Randolph had a dominating performance once again and led the team with a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference semi-final series. The big man Marc Gasol joined the action
as he landed 20 points and clutched 13 rebounds to put Memphis on the frontline.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had an impressive scoring night and notched up 33 and 29 points respectively, however their formidable play was not sufficient enough against the influential Randolph.
Durant said on Zach’s smashing performance, "You can't stop him (Randolph). We've got to make him shoot tough shots but even when he missed he'd be there to get his own rebound and the tip-in. He's an animal. I think he's the best power forward in the league."
The All-Star Randolph surged with a series of jumpers, bank shots and free throws to clinch an early advantage 7-4 in the preliminary three minutes of the first quarter from where the Grizzlies never trailed. Subsequently, Gasol added seven points to lead
the Grizzlies to a 28-24 advantage at the end of the period.
The home team strived to retaliate in the second quarter as Westbrook lifted the momentum, as the Grizzlies powerful defence play helped them to amplify the lead 57-47 going into the half-time.
The Star of the Night, Randolph was invincible in the second half and thrashed the Thunder out of the game. Randolph scored 12 points in the third quarter and restricted the opposition to score in the last three minutes as the Grizzlies entered the final
period with a 13-point advantage.
James Harden and Durant blistered away with two back-to-back 3-pointers with the start of the fourth period, as Randolph’s sheer domination powered the visiting Grizzlies to seal an effortless win in the end.
Miami Heat 99 – Boston Celtics 90
At the American Airlines Arena on Sunday night, the All-star Dwyane Wade notched up a game-high 38 points to spearhead the Miami Heat for an electrifying 99-90 victory over the streaking Boston Celtics.
Fired up with the determination to clinch the championship title this year, the frontrunner Wade is smashing the opposition convincingly. The veteran bench player James Jones also proved how threatening he can be down the stretch and powered the Heat with
a career-high five scorching blows from downtown to end the night with 25 points.
Ray Allen scored a team-high 25 and Paul Pierce finished the night with 19 points, making them the only two players in the Celtics line-up who posted a decent performance.
The prolific Wade smashed Boston with 13 points in the first quarter as Miami took a comprehensive 20-14 lead early. The sharp-shooter Jones buried four of the six blows from beyond the arc in the second quarter to put the Heat on the frontline. On the verge
of cutting down the deficit, the Celtics landed a couple of 3-pointers as well just before the half-time however the extensive lead constructed by Miami enabled them to wrap up a huge 51-36 advantage.
The Celtics went on a 12-4 run with the start of the third quarter that showed a glimpse of hope for the visiting team to strike back. However LeBron James charged in swiftly and scored eight points in the last seven minutes as the Heat entered the final
12 minutes with a massive 76-62 advantage.
Jones surged with a number of free throws in the fourth quarter as Wade continued to dominate and scored 13 points in the period to thrash Celtics’ aggressive play down the stretch and spearheaded Miami for a brilliant win.
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