Thunder 106, Grizzlies 89
Thunder 106, Grizzlies 89: Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Russell Westbrook added 21 as host Oklahoma City used a big first half to subdue undermanned Memphis.
Durant and Westbrook combined to shoot 19-for-33 from the field with 16 rebounds and 12 assists for the Thunder, who looked sharp throughout following a three-day break. Kevin Martin added 16 points and Nick Collison chipped in with 12.
Jerryd Bayless led the way with 23 points for the Grizzlies, who were without new arrivals Tayshaun Prince, Austin Daye and Ed Davis. The three were acquired in a three-way trade between Memphis, Detroit and Toronto on Wednesday that saw star small forward Rudy Gay dealt to the Raptors.
The Thunder had little trouble gaining the upper hand on the Grizzlies, limiting them to 12 second-quarter points en route to a 58-34 advantage. Westbrook had 16 first-half points, Durant added 13 and the Oklahoma City defense limited Memphis to 25.5 percent from the field.
Memphis charged back into the game with a dominant third-quarter effort, making it a 12-point game on the strength of nine points from Zach Randolph. The Thunder maintained their double-digit lead early in the fourth, stretching it to 91-77 on a Durant jumper and closing things out on a wide open Kendrick Perkins dunk following a Memphis turnover on the ensuing possession.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Randolph went 0-for-9 in the opening half but had 12 rebounds at the break. He finished with nine points and 19 boards. ... The Grizzlies grabbed a season-high 21 offensive rebounds compared to just four by the Thunder. ... Memphis finished at 34.7 percent shooting for the game.