2011 NBA Playoffs; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City find way to stun Grizzlies, even series
There was no answer.
No answer to the way Oklahoma City was playing. They trailed 37-19, then 44-27. How could a team like Oklahoma City come back and beat Memphis. The Grizzlies had all of the momentum.
They let it slip away.
Russell Westbrook scored 40, Kevin Durant scored 35 as Oklahoma City stunned Memphis 133-123 in the third overtime. Oklahoma City had chances to win in both overtimes, but they missed three game-winning shots.
Memphis was getting great plays here and there from Zach Randolph, Shane Battier, Marc Gasol, just about everyone. When O.J. Mayo drained a 17-footer early in the second, the Grizzlies went up 37-19.
Kendrick Perkins was called for a technical foul midway through the second, giving Zach Randolph a technical free throw. He made it, then drained a short shot. Memphis lead 44-27. However, OKC dominated the rest of the period, and cut the halftime score to 53-49.
Durant and Westbrook combined for 14 of the team's 22 points in the third quarter, and even though Memphis still lead 72-71, Oklahoma City was ready in the fourth. Nazr Mohamed scored seven points in the quarter, and Westbrook and Durant dominated.
With the Thunder up 87-80, Westbrook went hard to the hole and finished by draining a circus shot. Westbrook was fouled on the play, so he went to the line and made the foul shot, giving the Thunder a 90-80 lead.
Still, the Grizzlies weren't done. Giving up wasn't an option, but grabbing rebounds was. By out-rebounding OKC, Memphis got enough baskets and foul shots to get back in the game. And when Mike Conley, 1-10 on the night, stepped up for a three, it was do or die for Memphis.
It was do.
Conley's shot went right through the net, and when Russell Westbrook's 20-foot fadeaway clanged off the rim, we were going to overtime, where it was the brink of elimination or home-court advantage for Oklahoma City.
With the Thunder up 100-98 in overtime, James Harden took a layup. It missed, but Kendrick Perkins (who hadn't done so well this game) was there to put it back. On the next Thunder possession, Westbrook fired a pass to Durant, who lofted up a three...
It made it. Memphis was cooked.
Or were they? A couple O.J. Mayo threes later, Memphis was right back in the game. Down 107-106, Memphis got a steal and worked the fastbreak. Conley kicked it out, and then ran over to the wing.
The ball was passed to Conley. He took a wide-open three and...
It clanged off the front rim, the backboard, and missed. Conley was forced to foul Westbrook, and that was his sixth foul. Westbrook made both free throws, and Conley was done for the night. This couldn't get much worse.
The thing is, it didn't get worse. Grevis Vasquez subbed in for Conley, and he knocked down a shot that Michael Jordan might've missed. It was almost a hook shot, but it didn't matter.
All eyes were on Kevin Durant, trying to win the game for the Thunder. Kendrick Perkins was wide open down low, but Durant couldn't get it to him. He had to heave up a three, and he did, but it hit the front rim and bounced back onto the court.
In the second overtime, the Grizzlies didn't fall behind. In fact, with the score tied at 114, Vasquez went to the hoop, made a crazy left-handed layup and got fouled. A free throw later, Memphis lead by three (wow!).
All the momentum and jubilation in the stadium died away quickly. James Harden got the ball on the right wing, and he knocked down a wide open triple.
Marc Gasol quickly got the crowd in it again by tipping in a Randolph miss, and with chants of "defense" ringing across the stadium, both teams were fired up to make a play. It wasn't Memphis coming up lucky.
By faking a dribble drive with his crossover, Westbrook allowed himself a wide open jump shot, which he made. Memphis could've gone back on top, but after so many offensive rebounds, Nick Collison saved the ball from going out of bounds, and the Thunder got it.
Russell Westbrook had a chance to win it, and he took a running jumper. The shot...
Missed! We were going to a third overtime!
With the Thunder up 125-123, Serge Ibaka made a couple huge plays. First, he caught a pass from Russell Westbrook, put up a floater, and drained it. On Memphis' side, he blocked Marc Gasol, setting up a dribble drive and floater from Durant.
Durant sealed the deal with a jumper from the top of the key to give the Thunder a 131-123 lead. In a game that went from Monday night to Tuesday morning, the Thunder had survived.
The series is tied at two. Oklahoma City has two home games, while Memphis only has one home game remaining in the series.
Game 5 is Wednesday night.
No answer to the way Oklahoma City was playing. They trailed 37-19, then 44-27. How could a team like Oklahoma City come back and beat Memphis. The Grizzlies had all of the momentum.
They let it slip away.
Russell Westbrook scored 40, Kevin Durant scored 35 as Oklahoma City stunned Memphis 133-123 in the third overtime. Oklahoma City had chances to win in both overtimes, but they missed three game-winning shots.
Memphis was getting great plays here and there from Zach Randolph, Shane Battier, Marc Gasol, just about everyone. When O.J. Mayo drained a 17-footer early in the second, the Grizzlies went up 37-19.
Kendrick Perkins was called for a technical foul midway through the second, giving Zach Randolph a technical free throw. He made it, then drained a short shot. Memphis lead 44-27. However, OKC dominated the rest of the period, and cut the halftime score to 53-49.
Durant and Westbrook combined for 14 of the team's 22 points in the third quarter, and even though Memphis still lead 72-71, Oklahoma City was ready in the fourth. Nazr Mohamed scored seven points in the quarter, and Westbrook and Durant dominated.
With the Thunder up 87-80, Westbrook went hard to the hole and finished by draining a circus shot. Westbrook was fouled on the play, so he went to the line and made the foul shot, giving the Thunder a 90-80 lead.
Still, the Grizzlies weren't done. Giving up wasn't an option, but grabbing rebounds was. By out-rebounding OKC, Memphis got enough baskets and foul shots to get back in the game. And when Mike Conley, 1-10 on the night, stepped up for a three, it was do or die for Memphis.
It was do.
Conley's shot went right through the net, and when Russell Westbrook's 20-foot fadeaway clanged off the rim, we were going to overtime, where it was the brink of elimination or home-court advantage for Oklahoma City.
With the Thunder up 100-98 in overtime, James Harden took a layup. It missed, but Kendrick Perkins (who hadn't done so well this game) was there to put it back. On the next Thunder possession, Westbrook fired a pass to Durant, who lofted up a three...
It made it. Memphis was cooked.
Or were they? A couple O.J. Mayo threes later, Memphis was right back in the game. Down 107-106, Memphis got a steal and worked the fastbreak. Conley kicked it out, and then ran over to the wing.
The ball was passed to Conley. He took a wide-open three and...
It clanged off the front rim, the backboard, and missed. Conley was forced to foul Westbrook, and that was his sixth foul. Westbrook made both free throws, and Conley was done for the night. This couldn't get much worse.
The thing is, it didn't get worse. Grevis Vasquez subbed in for Conley, and he knocked down a shot that Michael Jordan might've missed. It was almost a hook shot, but it didn't matter.
All eyes were on Kevin Durant, trying to win the game for the Thunder. Kendrick Perkins was wide open down low, but Durant couldn't get it to him. He had to heave up a three, and he did, but it hit the front rim and bounced back onto the court.
In the second overtime, the Grizzlies didn't fall behind. In fact, with the score tied at 114, Vasquez went to the hoop, made a crazy left-handed layup and got fouled. A free throw later, Memphis lead by three (wow!).
All the momentum and jubilation in the stadium died away quickly. James Harden got the ball on the right wing, and he knocked down a wide open triple.
Marc Gasol quickly got the crowd in it again by tipping in a Randolph miss, and with chants of "defense" ringing across the stadium, both teams were fired up to make a play. It wasn't Memphis coming up lucky.
By faking a dribble drive with his crossover, Westbrook allowed himself a wide open jump shot, which he made. Memphis could've gone back on top, but after so many offensive rebounds, Nick Collison saved the ball from going out of bounds, and the Thunder got it.
Russell Westbrook had a chance to win it, and he took a running jumper. The shot...
Missed! We were going to a third overtime!
With the Thunder up 125-123, Serge Ibaka made a couple huge plays. First, he caught a pass from Russell Westbrook, put up a floater, and drained it. On Memphis' side, he blocked Marc Gasol, setting up a dribble drive and floater from Durant.
Durant sealed the deal with a jumper from the top of the key to give the Thunder a 131-123 lead. In a game that went from Monday night to Tuesday morning, the Thunder had survived.
The series is tied at two. Oklahoma City has two home games, while Memphis only has one home game remaining in the series.
Game 5 is Wednesday night.
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