Grizzlies beat Thunder in OT, tie series at 1-1
Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) goes up for a shot in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the second quarter of Game 2 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City. AP
OKLAHOMA CITY — Zach Randolph scored 25 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-105 in overtime on Monday night and tie their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Mike Conley added 19 points and 12 assists for the Grizzlies.
Kevin Durant had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, but he made just 11 of 28 shots.
Randolph’s layup with 26 seconds left in overtime put the Grizzlies up by two. Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka traveled, giving the ball back to the Grizzlies. Courtney Lee made two free throws for Memphis to make it a four-point game. Durant missed a 3-pointer and Randolph made two free throws with nine seconds left to put the game out of reach.
The Thunder trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter, but they finally took the lead when Thabo Sefolosha stole the ball from Randolph, leading to a dunk by Durant with 1:14 remaining.
Mike Miller came back with a 3-pointer to put Memphis up 95-93 with 53.7 seconds left.
Westbrook missed a 3-pointer and Memphis rebounded. Conley missed the first free throw and made the second to make it a three-point game.
Tony Allen stole the ball from Durant, and Conley made two free throws with 18.1 seconds left to push the Grizzlies’ lead to five.
Durant answered with a miraculous four-point play with 13.8 seconds remaining. He hit a 3-pointer from the corner as he was being pushed out of bounds by Marc Gasol. Durant then converted the free throw to make it a one-point game.
Conley made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to make it 99-97. Westbrook missed a wild 3-pointer in the closing seconds, but Kendrick Perkins, who hadn’t made a field goal all game, scored on a putback as time expired to force overtime.
