|
 Serge Ibaka added 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 12 rebounds
for the Thunder, who have won 11 of their last 12 games. Durant went
11-of-21 from the field to get back to the 30-point plateau after
missing the mark in back-to-back games.
Marc Gasol scored 13 points and Zach Randolph recorded 13 points and
13 boards to lead the Grizzlies. Courtney Lee added 11 points but
Nick Calathes slumped to eight on 4-of-11 shooting in his second
start in place of injured point guard Mike Conley (ankle).
Lee's basket with 4:54 left pulled Memphis within 78-75 before
Durant scored four points in a 7-0 burst to push the lead back to
double figures. The Grizzlies managed one field goal the rest of the
way and turned it over four times in the final three minutes to help
Oklahoma City put it away.
[to top of second column] |
Memphis went without a field goal over the final 6:25 of the second
quarter as Durant led a 20-4 run to send the Thunder into the break
with a 51-36 lead. The Grizzlies found their rhythm again early in
the third quarter and chopped the deficit to 62-57 before four
points from Durant in the final minute helped give Oklahoma City a
69-61 lead heading into the fourth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The teams combined to go 6-of-34 from 3-point range,
with Durant struggling to 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. Memphis held
its 11th straight opponent under 100 points — a string that began
with a 90-87 triumph over Oklahoma City on Jan. 14. Thunder reserve
C Steven Adams had four of the team 's nine blocked shots.
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