NBA: Grizzlies rally to grab series lead on Thunder
MEMPHIS – Zach Randolph scored 21 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to power the Memphis Grizzlies from a 16-point deficit to a 101-93 over-time NBA playoff victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo each added 18 points for the Grizzlies, who seized a two games to one lead in the Western Conference second round best-of-seven series that continues Monday in Memphis.
The winner will face Dallas or the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference final. The Mavericks lead the two-time defending champions 3-0 in the series and can complete the sweep at home on Sunday.
Spaniard Marc Gasol added 16 points for the Grizzlies while Randolph’s rebound total was a club record.
“I was just being aggressive, trying to get myself into the game, keep them from staying near the basket and getting easy shots,” Randolph said. “We played great. Everybody showed up tonight.”
The Grizzlies are trying to become the first eighth seed to reach a conference final.
“It’s a huge win for us. This a great win,” Conley said. “For us to make a comeback in front of our home crowd is huge. It’s important for us to win at home if we’re going to take the series.”
The Grizzlies trailed Oklahoma City by 16 points with only five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but rallied to deadlock the game at 86 and even missed a chance to win at the final buzzer of regulation when Randolph missed.
Memphis kept Oklahoma City to only 10 points in the fourth quarter and the Thunder went nearly eight minutes without a basket from the field in the end of the fourth quarter and the first three minutes of over-time.
Tony Allen sank four free throws and Randolph scored on a rebound to give the Grizzlies a 94-88 edge. Memphis hit free throws down the stretch to keep the Thunder at bay.
Russell Westbrook scored a game-high 23 points and added 12 assists for the Thunder but went 1-for-7 from the field in the fourth quarter and over-time before fouling out.
A major reason for Westbrook’s woes was sharp defense by Conley, who found his scoring touch in the comeback and kept it going in the extra five-minute period, outplaying the more-heralded Thunder standout.
“Once I got a couple shots to go down, I got my rhythm back,” Conley said.
NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant added 22 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City while Serge Ibaka contributed 14 points. Kendrick Perkins grabbed 13 rebounds for the Thunder before fouling out early in over-time.
