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Grizzlies rally, force Game 7
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May 15, 2011, Sunday
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THE Memphis Grizzlies recovered from a dismal first half to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-83 and force a Game 7 in their National Basketball Association Western Conference semifinal series.
The eighth-seeded Grizzlies erased a 10-point half-time deficit with a stifling defense and outscored the Thunder 51-29 in the second half to the delight of the sellout crowd at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.
"We talked about finishing period," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "Finishing at the baskets. Finishing our defensive possessions with rebounds. Finishing our offensive possessions with making a basket.
"You know we missed a lot layups last game and in the first half of this game, and then in the second half we got it going. It's always about finishing."
Zach Randolph scored 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies. OJ Mayo, making his first start of the playoffs, scored 16 points and Mike Conley added 11.
Shane Battier was tasked with shutting down Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and held the NBA's leading scorer to just 11 points on 3-for-14 shooting.
"It was frustrating to go out there and prepare so hard and not play as hard as I wanted to," Durant said. "But I have to stay positive. My teammates always encourage me, so I feel good about that."
The Thunder started quickly, jumping to an 11-6 lead led by Durant's six points before picking up his second foul and leaving the game just 5:30 into the first quarter.
With Durant on the bench the Grizzlies pushed back with a 17-10 run to close the first quarter.
Oklahoma City regained its form in the second quarter behind Russell Westbrook, who led the Thunder with 27 points in the game, and James Harden.
Harden launched back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Thunder's lead to 52-39 before Battier connected on a 3-pointer as time ran out in the first half to trim the deficit to 10 points.
The winner of tomorrow's decider in Oklahoma City will face the Dallas Mavericks, who swept the defending NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers, in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series.
Meanwhile, Doc Rivers has agreed to a fresh five-year deal to remain head coach of the Boston Celtics, the team said on Friday.
Rivers' existing contract was set to expire at the end of this season and he had initially planned to take a break from coaching to watch his son play college basketball.
However, the 49-year-old changed his mind after Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge approached him before the start of the playoffs about a possible return.
Ainge did not disclose further details of Rivers' new deal but local media estimate the contract extension to be worth US$35 million.
(Reuters)
The eighth-seeded Grizzlies erased a 10-point half-time deficit with a stifling defense and outscored the Thunder 51-29 in the second half to the delight of the sellout crowd at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.
"We talked about finishing period," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "Finishing at the baskets. Finishing our defensive possessions with rebounds. Finishing our offensive possessions with making a basket.
"You know we missed a lot layups last game and in the first half of this game, and then in the second half we got it going. It's always about finishing."
Zach Randolph scored 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies. OJ Mayo, making his first start of the playoffs, scored 16 points and Mike Conley added 11.
Shane Battier was tasked with shutting down Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and held the NBA's leading scorer to just 11 points on 3-for-14 shooting.
"It was frustrating to go out there and prepare so hard and not play as hard as I wanted to," Durant said. "But I have to stay positive. My teammates always encourage me, so I feel good about that."
The Thunder started quickly, jumping to an 11-6 lead led by Durant's six points before picking up his second foul and leaving the game just 5:30 into the first quarter.
With Durant on the bench the Grizzlies pushed back with a 17-10 run to close the first quarter.
Oklahoma City regained its form in the second quarter behind Russell Westbrook, who led the Thunder with 27 points in the game, and James Harden.
Harden launched back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Thunder's lead to 52-39 before Battier connected on a 3-pointer as time ran out in the first half to trim the deficit to 10 points.
The winner of tomorrow's decider in Oklahoma City will face the Dallas Mavericks, who swept the defending NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers, in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series.
Meanwhile, Doc Rivers has agreed to a fresh five-year deal to remain head coach of the Boston Celtics, the team said on Friday.
Rivers' existing contract was set to expire at the end of this season and he had initially planned to take a break from coaching to watch his son play college basketball.
However, the 49-year-old changed his mind after Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge approached him before the start of the playoffs about a possible return.
Ainge did not disclose further details of Rivers' new deal but local media estimate the contract extension to be worth US$35 million.
(Reuters)
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