With Regulation Win, Thunder Force Deciding Game
Kevin Durant scored 36 points to break out of a slump, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Memphis Grizzlies, 104-84, on Thursday night to force a deciding seventh game in their opening-round Western Conference series.
Russell Westbrook added 25 points for the Thunder, who have not been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since 2010.
They took control early, with Durant scoring 14 points in the first quarter. They led by 15 at halftime and never let Memphis get closer in the second half.
It was the first game in the series to end in regulation since the opener, coming after a record four consecutive overtime games in one playoff.
Durant, who made 14 of 15 free throws, also had 10 rebounds. Reggie Jackson had 16 points off the bench for the Thunder.
Game 7 is Saturday night in Oklahoma City.
Marc Gasol scored 17 points for Memphis, and Zach Randolph had 16. Guard Mike Conley strained his right hamstring, briefly returned and left for good with less than nine minutes left.
Conley went down while dribbling near midcourt in the third quarter when Kendrick Perkins reached in for a steal. Conley returned briefly but was limping. With the Thunder in control, he went to the locker room again and did not return.
Durant had to answer questions after the shootaround Thursday about being called Mr. Unreliable in a headline in an Oklahoma City newspaper. Durant said that he had no problem with the headline and that he just needed to hit shots and be more aggressive.
Durant did just that as he finished 11 of 23 from the floor. He continued to struggle outside the arc where he missed all six of his attempts.
The Thunder outrebounded the Grizzlies, 47-36, and easily outshot them 49.3 percent (37 of 75) to 37.3 percent (31 of 83).
LAKERS TO TAKE TIME The Los Angeles Lakers say they are in no rush to hire their next coach.
That means the next several weeks are likely to be filled with anonymous speculation, widespread rumors and outright lies about the innumerable candidates to succeed Mike D'Antoni after the Lakers' worst season in more than 50 years.
The new coach will be one part of a thorough franchise rebuilding over the next several years.
Los Angeles has just three players under contract for next season, along with a draft pick guaranteed to be in the top nine. Kobe Bryant, who played only six games this season and will turn 36 before next season, is under contract for two more years.
Post a Comment for "With Regulation Win, Thunder Force Deciding Game"