OKLAHOMA CITY - No one would ever describe Kevin Durant as combative in his history with the media, but the Thunder All-Star is clearly getting irritated with questions about Memphis defender Tony Allen.
"He's good," Durant said. "It's not like I'm non-existent. I don't know what you guys have been watching. He's been making me work like everyone else would."
Durant scored 36 points in Monday's 111-105 overtime loss in Game 2, but needed 28 shots (making 12) to get there. Allen guarded Durant for much of Durant's 45 minutes of action. Durant went 13-of-25 from the field in the Thunder's Game 1, 100-86 victory.
"We have to make adjustments and move on," Durant said. "We're confident going into game three."
Memphis is 3-1 the past four playoff games in Oklahoma City.
"He (Allen) did a terrific job just kind of harassing him and not letting him get a catch where he wants to get a catch," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said of Allen's defense on Durant. Tony was tremendous."
Durant didn't like the line of questioning after the loss Monday on whether the team shot too many jumpers. Oklahoma City attempted 30 and made nine. Durant was 5-of-12. The Thunder attempted just one of eight shots in overtime from closer than 14 feet.
"That's a pretty good percentage, isn't it?" Durant said on his 3-pointers Monday.
No arguing that, but clearly Durant has had issues with Allen and Memphis in the playoffs. He was a 42 percent shooter last season in the five-game series loss, including a 5-for-21 effort in Game 5, going for 23 percent. Durant also had a 3-of-13 showing in a 2011 Game 2 loss to the Grizzlies. He wound up shooting 44.9 percent for the series which went seven games.
For his career, Durant is a 47.8 percent shooter and a 46.3 percent shooter in the playoffs.
Allen praised Durant after the game Monday night, making sure everyone knew Durant still had plenty of points. In the two games so far this series, Durant is averaging 34.5 points on 47.2 percent shooting, including 42 percent from the 3-point line. Allen is tough, but no one has really stopped Durant.
"He's good," Durant said of Allen. "It's a long series. We lost a game at home. We've been down before. We have to figure it out and trust everybody. We lost and we have to move past it."
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
