NBA -- Grizzlies eliminate Thunder with Game 5 win
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 16 May 2013
CHICAGO -- For the first time this postseason, superstar Kevin Durant looked mortal, missing an astounding 15 of 21 field goals. The anomaly couldn't have happened at a worst time as the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Memphis Grizzlies, 88-84, Wednesday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Durant still managed with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but the all-around fare wasn't enough to help the Thunder, who were eliminated from the playoffs after five games in the Western Conference semifinal.
"We came up short. Memphis made it tough on us all series. The last play I was just trying to get an open look and I had one, but my shot was too long. It's tough to lose your last game in the playoffs and down the road we'll probably look back on this appreciate these tough times. Sometimes you gotta ride the storms to see the sunshine," a dejected Durant told NBA.com after missing a jumper that could have tied the score in the last 4.9 seconds of play.
Zach Randolph came up huge for the Grizzlies with 28 points and 14 rebounds while point guard Mike Conley added 13 and 11 assists. Tony Allen and Marc Gasol combined for 21 points as Memphis survived a rough shooting night, hitting just three of 14 threes and 30 of 81 field goals overall. But the Grizzlies cashed in 25 of 25 free throws.
"Every game had a chance to go to the other team. Tonight they came back in the second half and just keep coming. We just made enough plays to win. Zach was huge the whole game, he came out snortin' and gruntin' the whole game," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said during his postgame press conference.
Serge Ibaka chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds for OKC and Reggie Jakcson, playing in place of the injured Russell Westbrook, tallied 16. Kevin Martin finished with just 10 points as the Thunder missed 19 of 25 threes and made only 31 of 84 shots.
With a berth on the Western Conference Finals, the Grizzlies will await the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Golden State Warriors showdown, a best-of-7 series the Spurs lead at 3-2. (Homer D. Sayson)
Zach Randolph led Memphis' charge with 28 points as the Grizzlies bounced the OKC Thunder from the playoffs Wednesday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
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