Grizzlies Edge Thunder 100-99; Take 3-2 Series Lead
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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(OKLAHOMA CITY) — Another day, another overtime playoff game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With 2.9 seconds remaining in overtime, Kevin Durant missed a long three-point attempt that would’ve won the game. Serge Ibaka tipped in the miss, but a review determined it was late and the Thunder fell short. The Grizzlies escaped with a 100-99 victory and now hold a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.
“I had a good look at it and I thought it was good when it left my hand,” Durant said. “And then Serge’s follow shot was just late. It was a tough finish but we’ve got to come back.”
It was a record fourth straight overtime game in the series, and Memphis has won three of them. Guard Mike Conley hit a driving layup late in the extra period, giving the Grizzlies the lead for good.
“Nothing comes easy for us,” forward Zach Randolph said after chipping in 20 points and 10 rebounds. “We get it out of the mud, we grind and we’re underdogs. It’s what we do.”
The Thunder trailed by 20 points in the third quarter but trimmed their deficit to six by the start of the fourth quarter. They took a 79-78 lead on a Durant three-pointer, setting up the wild finish.
The seventh-seeded Grizzlies can close out the second-seeded Thunder on Thursday night at home.
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