Grizzlies at Thunder
THE STORY: The best player on the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t make the All-Star team this season, and he is punishing teams for the oversight. Forward Zach Randolph scored a career playoff-high 34 points in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals, and will seek a second stellar performance when the eighth-seeded Grizzlies and the No. 4 seed Thunder meet in Tuesday’s Game 2 at Oklahoma City. Thunder star Kevin Durant declared Randolph the “best power forward in the league” after Randolph’s fine showing in Sunday’s series opener, won 114-101 by the upstart Grizzlies. Randolph has scored 25 or more points in five of Memphis’ seven postseason games, including four impressive showings in the Grizzlies’ six-game first-round upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Randolph averaged 20.1 points and 12.2 rebounds in the regular season.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Durant (33 points) and point guard Russell Westbrook (29) combined for 62 points in the opener, and Oklahoma City still lost by double digits. The Thunder were sloppy with the basketball with 18 turnovers, including seven by Westbrook. Forward Serge Ibaka continued his fine postseason with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots, but no other Oklahoma City player scored more than five points in the opener. The Thunder, who only received 16 points from their bench, had won 13 of their last 15 home games.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Randolph, who also had 10 rebounds, wasn’t the only Memphis big man to have his way in the opener. Center Marc Gasol made 9-of-11 field-goal attempts, and had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Gasol repeatedly hit open mid-range jumpers when Oklahoma City sagged inside to double-team Randolph. Memphis committed only seven turnovers and point guard Mike Conley played a solid game with 15 points, seven assists and zero turnovers. The Grizzlies had 11 steals as Randolph led the way with three. Bench players Darrell Arthur and O.J. Mayo struggled as both scored six points on 2-of-7 shooting.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Gasol has recorded three consecutive playoff double-doubles and has averaged 14.3 points and 14.3 rebounds during that span. Durant is averaging 35 points in his last three games.
KEY STATISTIC: Randolph has three 30-point, 10-rebound games against Oklahoma City in five meetings this season.
LAST WORD: “You can’t stop him. You’ve got to make him shoot tough shots like he’s been doing, but if he’s making them, he’s tough to stop. He’s an animal.” – Durant on Randolph.