Thunder tamed by Grizzlies in overtime 105-101

Thunder tamed by Grizzlies in overtime 105-101

Published Feb. 8, 2011 9:12 p.m. ET

BOX SCORE

By JEFF LATZKE

AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Zach Randolph had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Tony Allen scored a season-high 27 while harassing NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-101 in overtime Tuesday night.

Durant had 31 points and 11 rebounds, but got off just one shot in overtime and also had a key turnover in the final 20 seconds with the Thunder down by three.

The Grizzlies bounced back from a loss to the Lakers a night earlier and won despite playing without Rudy Gay, who's tied with Randolph as the team's leading scorer and sat out with a sprained right big toe.

Russell Westbrook added 21 points and 11 assists but also tied his season-high with eight turnovers for Oklahoma City, which lost for the first time in six overtime games this season.

Mike Conley put Memphis ahead to stay with his free throw with 2:55 left in overtime, and Sam Young followed with a baseline jumper to bump the lead to 100-97.

Westbrook missed two critical free throws before Durant made two to get Oklahoma City back within one. Randolph then converted inside for a layup with 28.0 seconds left to make it 102-99.

Durant tripped while trying a crossover dribble at the other end, and the Thunder were forced to foul Conley. He went 1 for 2 but it was enough to keep Oklahoma City from getting a shot at the tie.

After Jeff Green tipped in Serge Ibaka's missed 3-pointer, Conley hit two more free throws to ice it with 5.4 seconds left.

Oklahoma City made just one of its first eight shots in overtime, with Durant connecting on his only attempt in that span. But when he did get the ball late, he couldn't bail out the Thunder.

Young scored 14, Conley had 13 and Marc Gasol finished with 12 as all five Memphis starters reached double figures to make up for Gay's absence. Allen had five steals as Memphis -- which leads the league in steals and forced turnovers -- had 23 takeaways that produced 31 points.

James Harden scored 13 and was the only other player in double figures for the Thunder, who lost despite a 58-36 rebounding advantage.

The Grizzlies overcame a 12-point second half deficit and then used a 12-3 run featuring a rare 3-pointer by Randolph to pull ahead midway through the fourth quarter. Randolph put back his own miss and then made just his fifth 3-pointer in 28 attempts this season on the next possession, and Allen's two free throws put Memphis in front 90-84 with 5:16 to play.

Westbrook had a backward three-point play -- hitting his first free throw, then putting back his own miss on the second -- and then a regular one while leading the Thunder into the lead. Durant's jumper from the left wing put the Thunder up 95-92 with 1:43 left.

After a Westbrook miss, Allen raced down for a fast-break layup that led to a tying three-point play. The Grizzlies had a chance to go back ahead, but Mike Conley traveled with 21.7 seconds left in regulation.

Westbrook had the ball tipped away before airballing a 3-pointer from the right wing, and Harden's acrobatic putback at the buzzer didn't fall.

The Thunder led by as many as 13 before halftime with an uncharacteristically strong defensive effort in the first half. Oklahoma City gave up its fewest first-half points in 22 games, having allowed 55.4 points on average during that stretch, and led 54-44 at the break.

Randolph and Allen led a 17-2 run by Memphis that was fueled by 11 free throws. Allen's putback of a Greivis Vasquez miss put the Grizzlies ahead in the final minute, and Randolph added two free throws to make it 74-71 Memphis after three quarters.

NOTES: Durant was selected as a participant in the 3-point shootout. He won the H-O-R-S-E competition the last two years, but there won't be one this year. "Hopefully I can have a good time and hopefully I come back with a win," Durant said. Coach Scott Brooks went a step further. "He can win it. I guarantee a win." ... The Thunder weren't sure whether a rib injury would keep Ibaka, a participant in the NBA's slam dunk contest next weekend, out until after he arrived at the arena. ... Memphis plays 17 of its last 28 games at home.

ADVERTISEMENT
share