|
 Durant shot only 9 of 18 from the field in a below average shooting
performance by his standards. But in his first game back from a
strained big toe, he used his activity on the backboards to find a
way to make an impression on the game. He finished one rebound away
from tying his career high.
Guard Russell Westbrook scored 20 points to go along with seven
assists and seven rebounds. Guard Dion Waiters added 15 points on 6
of 9 shooting as the Thunder improved to 25-11.
Guard Mario Chalmers came off the bench to pace Memphis with 23
points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Forward Matt Barnes scored
13 points and forward Zach Randoph scored 12 as the Grizzlies
dropped to 19-18.
Before the game, Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan was asked if
Waiters would start to get less minutes due to the shooting slump he
had been in. Donovan said Waiters brought much more to the team than
just scoring and he didn't want him to forget that.
Waiters proved Donovan's point with an all-around first half. He
compiled seven points, three assists and didn't miss a shot.
Not only did Memphis not have an answer for Waiters, they could not
slow down the entire Thunder squad. Eight different players from
Oklahoma City scored as the they led 56-36 at halftime.
However, it was the Thunder's defense that was the most impressive.
The 36 points allowed was the least amount they had held a team to
in the first half this season.
True to their nickname, Memphis tried to grind away at the deficit.
Without any one player shooting well from the field, they used
hustle points and offensive rebounding to close a 23 point lead down
to 18 heading into the fourth quarter.
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However, the Grizzlies didn't have the offensive horses to make much
more of a dent and the Thunder put the game away.
NOTES: Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant was back in the starting lineup
Wednesday after missing one game with a strained right big toe. "He
went through pretty much the entire shoot-around this morning; he
did some extra work with our medical staff," Thunder coach Billy
Donovan said. "He felt great." ... Memphis G Mike Conley missed
Wednesday's game against Oklahoma City with a hip-pointer. "Mike
Conley has so many things going on right now," Grizzlies coach Dave
Joerger said. "He is dinged up all over the place. It wasn't like it
just happened the other night." ... In the seven games this season,
Oklahoma City played without F Kevin Durant, G Russell Westbrook's
averages bump up from 25.3 points to 30.4, 7.3 assists to 10.1 and
from 5.3 rebounds to 7.7. ... Since moving to the Memphis bench last
month, 15-year veteran F Zach Randolph has grown into the role. "I'm
a team-first guy," Randolph said. "It's not about me, it's about
winning and whatever the coach thinks is best for the team. So
that's how I'm approaching it."
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