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Russell Westbrook added 25 points and nine rebounds as the
second-seeded Thunder led comfortably for the entire second
half. Reggie Jackson scored 16 points while Steven Adams (five)
and Serge Ibaka (four) combined to block nine shots for Oklahoma
City, which hosts the decisive Game 7 on Saturday.
Marc Gasol scored 17 points and Zach Randolph added 16 for the
Grizzlies, who lost point guard Mike Conley to a hamstring
injury. James Johnson tallied 15 points and Tony Allen added 13
for seventh-seeded Memphis, which succumbed meekly after the
series featured a record four consecutive overtime games.
Durant was the subject of a firestorm earlier in the day when
The Oklahoman ran a headline terming him as “Mr. Unreliable.” He
came out firing with 14 first-quarter points to set the tone and
reached the 30-point mark for the fourth time in the series.
The Thunder rolled off a 14-2 burst late in the first half and
took a 56-41 lead into the break. Ibaka’s driving basket pushed
the advantage to 20 early in the third quarter and Oklahoma City
took an 82-61 edge into the final stanza and cruised to the
finish.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Conley suffered the injury to his right hamstring
in the third quarter and briefly returned in the fourth before
calling it a night 55 seconds later and heading to the locker
room. … Durant was 11-of-23 from the field and 14-of-15 from the
free-throw line. … Memphis shot just 37.3 percent from the
field, including 3-of-14 from 3-point range.
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