Recap: Memphis vs. Oklahoma City
Sports Network | November 29, 2008
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant netted 30 points, and Jeff Green contributed 22, as the Oklahoma City Thunder mercifully halted a 14-game slide with a 111-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.
Durant also logged seven boards and went 14-of-16 at the foul line, as the Thunder had six players in double figures and shot 52.1 percent from the floor in grabbing its first win since November 2 against Minnesota.
Oklahoma City fell to 1-16 following Friday's heart-breaking 105-103 setback to the Timberwolves but responded nicely with its highest scoring output of the season.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points, Damien Wilkins and Desmond Mason each scored 11 and Joe Smith netted 10 points.
Oklahoma City is now 1-7 as the guest this season and opened a four-game road trip Saturday with visits to Charlotte, Orlando and Miami left to play on the swing. Head coach Scott Brooks also notched his first victory since replacing the fired P.J. Carlesimo last week.
Oklahoma City went 32-of-38 from the line en route to the much-needed win.
O.J. Mayo dropped 30 as well while also contributing seven boards for Memphis, which has dropped six in a row. Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each registered 16 points in losing despite the Grizzlies shooting 57.7 percent from the floor.
Memphis held a 28-22 lead after one quarter and pushed their lead to 11, 54-43, at the half, but the Thunder used a 68-point second half to come out with the win.
A jumper from Smith pulled the Thunder to within one, 83-82, with just under 10 minutes to play, and the game remained close with Green's three-ball tying the score at 94-94 with a little more than five minutes left.
Another three by Green and a Durant dunk gave Oklahoma City a three-point edge and forced a Grizzlies timeout. Gay sank a shot from 18 feet, and Kyle Lowry put Memphis back in front by one with a jumper at the three-minute mark.
But the Grizzlies managed just one more basket down the stretch, a three-ball from Mayo that made it a 109-103, and Oklahoma City went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute to seal the win.
The Grizzlies went 3-1 against the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise a year ago and have won seven of the past 12 matchups despite the loss...Memphis had won three straight as the host in this series...The Thunder also lost 14 in a row from February 3 - March 5, 1996, when they were located in Seattle...Earl Watson had nine points and seven assists for the Thunder...Lowry also had nine points.
