Grizzlies at Thunder
THE STORY: Fresh off the fiercest game of the current NBA postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies both seek a pivotal Game 5 victory when the Western Conference semifinal series returns to the Sooner State on Wednesday. The Thunder evened the series at 2-2 with an epic 133-123 triple-overtime victory in Memphis on Monday that consisted of memorable performances and thrilling plays by several players on both squads. Memphis blew an 18-point first-half lead in Game 4 and Oklahoma City let a 10-point fourth-quarter advantage get away prior to the three overtimes. Perhaps the biggest factor for Game 5 is which team can recharge from the emotional contest – the Thunder who return home after the dramatic victory or a disappointed Grizzlies’ team that missed a chance at a 3-1 lead.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Russell Westbrook (40) and Kevin Durant (35) combined for 75 points in Game 4. Both players are averaging 29 points in the series. Westbrook finally got his ball-handling under control with just three turnovers after having 18 miscues over the first three games. Reserve James Harden had 19 points and was a splendid 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Frontcourt players Serge Ibaka (seven points) and Kendrick Perkins (four points before fouling out) had difficult games but the Thunder received a major defensive contribution from Nick Collison. He had just four points and five rebounds in 35 minutes, but Oklahoma City outscored Memphis by 22 points while Collison was on the court.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Memphis twice staved off defeat with late baskets as Mike Conley hit a 3-pointer near the end of regulation and reserve Greivis Vasquez nailed a 3-pointer late in the first overtime. Zach Randolph (34 points, 16 rebounds) and Marc Gasol (26 points, 21 rebounds) again had big games inside for the Grizzlies. Both players have six double-doubles in the postseason with Gasol’s contributions being particularly strong. Gasol averaged 11.7 points and seven rebounds in the regular season, but is averaging 18.8 points and 12.8 rebounds in this series. The Grizzlies were hurt by the absences of guards O.J. Mayo (18 points) and Conley (16 points) in the third overtime. Both players fouled out in the first extra session.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Durant is averaging 30.9 points in nine postseason games. Randolph is averaging 23.3 points in 10 playoff contests.
KEY STATISTIC: Five players played more minutes than a regulation game on Monday – Durant (57), Westbrook (51) and Harden (49) for the Thunder and Gasol (57) and Randolph (56) for the Grizzlies.
LAST WORD: “Both teams kept coming back and fighting and fighting and fighting. It became a matter of just not having enough bullets as the game wore on. Nobody wanted to go home. Nobody wanted to lose.” – Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Game 4’s triple-overtime instant classic contest.