NBA Playoffs: Memphis Rallies, Stuns Oklahoma City for 2-1 series lead
The Grizzlies were down 16 late in the third quarter to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. They trailed by 15 with under a minute left in the third. So how did they win this game?
Overcoming adversity, and playing with determination and heart.
Zach Randolph, or Z-Bo, scored 21 points and grabbed 21 boards as the Grizzlies stunned the Thunder 101-93 in overtime. Memphis leads the series 2-1, a great feat for an eighth seed. If Memphis advances past OKC, they will become the first eighth seed to advance to the conference finals.
The game was close early on, with the biggest lead in the first 18:34 being OKC's 15-8 lead early. Memphis went on an 8-0 run to get the lead back, but Kevin Durant drained a stepback three to give the Thunder the lead.
However, Memphis led after one, getting the go-ahead bucket when Grevis Vasquez stole the ball from Durant and gave it up to O.J Mayo, who scored a layup at the buzzer. Mayo played great for Memphis in Game 3, scoring 18 and containing Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Memphis took a 28-24 second quarter lead, but OKC got back at them. With a 16-3 run, the Thunder changed a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Russell Westbrook added a nice bucket to the Thunder's side, getting a pass from Kendrick Perkins and finishing with a left-handed layup.
With the Thunder up 40-33, Marc Gasol tipped a pass. It was stolen by the Grizzlies, and on the ensuing possession, Gasol put up a hook shot. It went off the front rim, the backboard, and into the hoop. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be enough for the Grizzlies. A pair of jumpers from Serge Ibaka helped OKC take a 51-43 halftime lead.
OKC extended that lead in the third. An alley-oop pass from Russell Westbrook that Kevin Durant finished helped spark the Thunder. Oklahoma City led 70-54 late in the third quarter. However, a little battling by Memphis helped the Grizzlies get going. Marc Gasol tipped a missed shot to Shane Battier, who passed to Mike Conley. Conley found O.J Mayo, who knocked down a three.
Although the effects were still kicking in, and Memphis trailed 76-63 with only 12 minutes of basketball (or more) remaining, Memphis still believed. A foul by Z-Bo that could've easily been called a flagrant didn't help, but the Grizzlies started playing.
Down 76-67, Sam Young had the ball at the wing, just inside the three-point line. He did a pump-fake and flew high into the air. He dunked the basketball, cut the deficit to seven, and energized the crowd.
The momentum and energy didn't go the Grizzlies way, however. A feed from Westbrook and a bucket from Durant put OKC back on top by 11. After that, Memphis called timeout. I wouldn't ask Lionel Hollins what he told his team during that timeout, because it worked like a charm, and he wouldn't want to give his strategy away. Whatever it was, it pummeled the Thunder.
Mayo drained a triple, Tony Allen scored a dunk and Mike Conley finished from beyond the arc. Memphis was now within three, but after another OKC bucket, they fell behind by five. Z-Bo wouldn't accept falling behind by five, so he pivoted and made a short shot.
Two botched possessions by OKC and one by Memphis later, Mike Conley stepped up. He made a long jumper from the right wing, cutting the deficit to one. Tony Allen made two of four free throws, and Mike Conley made one of two to give Memphis the lead. However, Westbrook countered with foul shots of his own.
Kevin Durant had the ball in his hands for the Thunder. He stepped back, took a 20-footer, and....missed. After Z-Bo missed a three, the game went into OT. The momentum from Memphis carried into the extra session, as a left-handed layup by Conley and a tip-in by Z-Bo were the highlights of the extra-session. In Durant's off day (22 points), the Grizzlies survived.
Game 5 is Monday night.
Overcoming adversity, and playing with determination and heart.
Zach Randolph, or Z-Bo, scored 21 points and grabbed 21 boards as the Grizzlies stunned the Thunder 101-93 in overtime. Memphis leads the series 2-1, a great feat for an eighth seed. If Memphis advances past OKC, they will become the first eighth seed to advance to the conference finals.
The game was close early on, with the biggest lead in the first 18:34 being OKC's 15-8 lead early. Memphis went on an 8-0 run to get the lead back, but Kevin Durant drained a stepback three to give the Thunder the lead.
However, Memphis led after one, getting the go-ahead bucket when Grevis Vasquez stole the ball from Durant and gave it up to O.J Mayo, who scored a layup at the buzzer. Mayo played great for Memphis in Game 3, scoring 18 and containing Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Memphis took a 28-24 second quarter lead, but OKC got back at them. With a 16-3 run, the Thunder changed a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Russell Westbrook added a nice bucket to the Thunder's side, getting a pass from Kendrick Perkins and finishing with a left-handed layup.
With the Thunder up 40-33, Marc Gasol tipped a pass. It was stolen by the Grizzlies, and on the ensuing possession, Gasol put up a hook shot. It went off the front rim, the backboard, and into the hoop. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be enough for the Grizzlies. A pair of jumpers from Serge Ibaka helped OKC take a 51-43 halftime lead.
OKC extended that lead in the third. An alley-oop pass from Russell Westbrook that Kevin Durant finished helped spark the Thunder. Oklahoma City led 70-54 late in the third quarter. However, a little battling by Memphis helped the Grizzlies get going. Marc Gasol tipped a missed shot to Shane Battier, who passed to Mike Conley. Conley found O.J Mayo, who knocked down a three.
Although the effects were still kicking in, and Memphis trailed 76-63 with only 12 minutes of basketball (or more) remaining, Memphis still believed. A foul by Z-Bo that could've easily been called a flagrant didn't help, but the Grizzlies started playing.
Down 76-67, Sam Young had the ball at the wing, just inside the three-point line. He did a pump-fake and flew high into the air. He dunked the basketball, cut the deficit to seven, and energized the crowd.
The momentum and energy didn't go the Grizzlies way, however. A feed from Westbrook and a bucket from Durant put OKC back on top by 11. After that, Memphis called timeout. I wouldn't ask Lionel Hollins what he told his team during that timeout, because it worked like a charm, and he wouldn't want to give his strategy away. Whatever it was, it pummeled the Thunder.
Mayo drained a triple, Tony Allen scored a dunk and Mike Conley finished from beyond the arc. Memphis was now within three, but after another OKC bucket, they fell behind by five. Z-Bo wouldn't accept falling behind by five, so he pivoted and made a short shot.
Two botched possessions by OKC and one by Memphis later, Mike Conley stepped up. He made a long jumper from the right wing, cutting the deficit to one. Tony Allen made two of four free throws, and Mike Conley made one of two to give Memphis the lead. However, Westbrook countered with foul shots of his own.
Kevin Durant had the ball in his hands for the Thunder. He stepped back, took a 20-footer, and....missed. After Z-Bo missed a three, the game went into OT. The momentum from Memphis carried into the extra session, as a left-handed layup by Conley and a tip-in by Z-Bo were the highlights of the extra-session. In Durant's off day (22 points), the Grizzlies survived.
Game 5 is Monday night.
Comments