MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Kevin Durant scored six of his 35 points in the third overtime, and the Oklahoma City Thunder survived a thriller in holding off the Memphis Grizzlies 133-123 in a game that ended Tuesday morning.
With the victory, the Thunder grabbed back home-court advantage and tied this Western Conference semifinal at two games apiece.
Game 5 is on Wednesday night back in Oklahoma City. The winner of the series will play the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals.
The finish couldn’t have been more exciting in the second straight overtime game in this series. The sellout crowd stood through each overtime, though fans started trickling toward the exits as the clock ticked past midnight locally.
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 40 points. James Harden added 19, and Daequan Cook had 10.
The Grizzlies ran out of energy in the third overtime as they hit just 1 of 9 from the floor. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 34 points and 16 rebounds. Marc Gasol had 26 and 21 rebounds.
O.J. Mayo had 18 and Mike Conley 16 before both fouled out. Greivis Vasquez had 14.
Conley forced the first overtime with his lone 3 of the game. Vasquez, the rookie playing because Conley had fouled out late in the first overtime, hit a 3 to set up the second overtime. Gasol scored on a tip-in that set up the third OT.
The Thunder had their chances to win at the end of regulation and each overtime.
Westbrook’s jumper hit the rim before the buzzer to end the first 48 minutes. Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, had a 3 fall short of the basket at the end of the first overtime, and Westbrook’s long jumper grazed the front of the rim at the buzzer ending the second overtime.
In the third overtime, the Thunder finally took control.
Westbrook scored with 3:38 left to put the Thunder up for good with 3:38 left. Durant added a pair of free throws, and Serge Ibaka hit a jumper before Durant scored on a running layup for a 129-123 lead with 58.8 seconds left.
Published : Wednesday February 08, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 43
Two Calabarzon teams clashed for the gold medal in the wheelchair basketball tournament of the 1st PSC-Philspada National Games that officially closed at the Marikina Sports Park in Marikina City last Monday. Calabarzon-Tahanang Walang Hagdanan relied on an 11-0 run bridging the second and third periods to pull away for... Read more
Published : Wednesday February 08, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 83
By : People's Tonight
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Published : Wednesday February 08, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 37
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Published : Wednesday February 08, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 40
By : People's Tonight
TWO Calabarzon teams clashed for the gold medal in the wheelchair basketball tournament of the first PSC-Philspada National Games that officially closed at the Marikina Sports Park in Marikina City last Monday. Calabarzon-Tahanang Walang Hagdan relied on an 11-0 run bridging the second and third periods to pull away for... Read more
Published : Wednesday February 08, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 28
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