Down by 13 entering the fourth quarter, the Memphis Grizzlies grit and grind defensive effort turned a loss into a 101-93 overtime victory against Oklahoma City.
Through three quarters the Grizzlies were dysfunctional, mostly because of the Thunder’s good defense and Memphis’ inability to make shots.
With a little over three minutes left in the third, Oklahoma City was up 16 points and looked like they would cruise to a win.
Memphis trimmed the Thunder’s lead to 13 entering the fourth quarter, but nothing the Grizzlies had done during the first 36 minutes suggested they could come back and win the game.
But this is a different Grizzlies’ team. Unlike years past where they would give up when faced with a large deficit, Memphis continued to fight.
The Grizzlies got back in the game on the strength of their defense, led by mister grit and grind himself Tony Allen.
The Thunder’s Kevin Durant scored his 22nd point with 7:43 left to play giving Oklahoma City an 82-71 lead. That was the last point Durant would score for the rest of the fourth and overtime.
For 12:43, Allen got in Durant’s jock and held the NBA’s leading scorer to no points. Durant was 0 for 7 from the field and didn’t get to the free throw line during that stretch.
Just how suffocating was the Grizzlies’ defense? Oklahoma City only scored 17 points during the fourth quarter and overtime. That’s 17 points in 17 minutes.
Memphis took control of the boards and began scoring points inside. Allen and Zach Randolph were doing the dirty work in the interior while Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo made some outside shots to pull the Grizzlies closer.
And Mayo’s offensive effort turned out to be less important than the defense he played against the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.
With Allen shutting down Durant, Mayo held Westbrook to only four points in the final 7:43 of the fourth. In overtime, Mayo didn’t allow Westbrook to score and forced one turnover.
As Memphis shut down the Thunder’s two primary scorers, Oklahoma City’s offense wilted. The Grizzlies limited the Thunder to 36.6 percent from the field, including 4 of 21 from behind the arc.
The Grizzlies couldn’t put the Thunder away in regulation though. With the score tied at 86, Randolph had a chance to win the game with 4 seconds remaining but missed a three-pointer as the horn sounded.
But Memphis had all the momentum and took control in overtime.
Allen drove for a layup, then Conley scored on a layup. Allen then hit two free throws for a 92-86 lead with 2:56 left. The Grizzlies polished the win off at the free throw line, hitting 9 of 12.
It was the Grizzlies’ 11th come from behind victory this season and second in the playoffs trailing by 10 or more points in the second half.
Randolph scored 21 points and had 21 rebounds, his first career 20-20 postseason game and the only player to do so during the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
Conley and Mayo tossed in 18 points each for Memphis while Marc Gasol added 16 and Allen chipped in 10.
Westbrook led the Thunder with 23 points and 12 assists, but he turned the ball over seven times. Durant had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Serge Ibaka had 14 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots, and James Harden added 12 off the bench.
The Game 3 win also put Memphis ahead in the series 2 games to 1, with Game 4 set for Monday night at FedEx Forum.
The Grizzlies are 4-0 at home this postseason and can take complete control of the series with a win. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. central and will be televised by TNT.
