Mike Conley had a go-ahead three pointer down the stretch as Memphis went on a 10-3 run to close the game and beat Oklahoma City 99-93 in game two of their NBA playoff series.
Conley, who finished one assist short of a triple double, drained a clutch shot from beyond the arc with 1:58 left in the fourth for the Grizzlies, who levelled the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
"That was huge. We needed one," Conley said. "We just wanted to steal one and go back to the grind house. We feel really comfortable there so hopefully this will turn the series around."
The series now shifts to Memphis for game three Saturday night.
Conley had 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in Tuesday's contest in front of a crowd of 18,203 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
"This team goes as I go," Conley said. "If I play well, the other guys seem to play well so I just try my best to play aggressive and be assertive early and it really worked."
Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph finished with 24 and 15 points, respectively, for Memphis who dominated 23-6 on second-chance points. The Grizzlies also scored 20 more points in the paint in a game that featured 27 lead changes.
Like Conley, Thunder star Kevin Durant also nearly had a triple-double, compiling 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Derek Fisher scored 19 points and Kevin Martin was limited to six points on just two-of-11 shooting after scoring 25 points in each of the last two games for Oklahoma City.
"We were fortunate to get the win," said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.
With under two minutes left, the Grizzlies took a 92-90 lead when Gasol passed to Conley for an open three-pointer.
Durant shot long on a three-point attempt from the left side and then the combination of Gasol and Conley connected again. Conley hit an 18-footer with just over one minute left after Gasol set a pick for him at the top of the key.
Durant turned the ball over and missed from long range on the next two Oklahoma City possessions to end any chance of a Thunder rally down the stretch.
"We had good poise defensively," Conley said. "We started to get stops.
"Our poise under pressure and our ability to execute at the end of the game really helped us tonight."
AFP
Wed May 08 2013
Rusia, Malaysia jalin kerjasama dalam pelancongan mesra Muslim
Rusia dan Malaysia sedia utingkatkan pelancongan mesra Muslim menerusi kerjasama baharu antara badan pensijilan halal Rusia, Roskachestvo dan Pusat Pelancongan Islam Malaysia.
IShowSpeed tiba di KL, terima baju batik daripada peminat
Speed menerima hadiah daripada beberapa orang peminat Malaysia ketika kenderaannya berhenti di lampu isyarat di ibu negara pada Selasa,
Penyanyi Sean Diddy ditangakp di New York
Penerbit muzik terkenal, Puff Daddy atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sean Diddy Combs yang berdepan dengan beberapa tuduhan serangan seksual telah diberkas di Manhatann, New York oleh ejen persekutuan pada Isnin waktu tempatan.
10 maut, puluhan cedera bas Iran terbalik
Menurut angka awal, kemalangan itu mengakibatkan 10 maut dan 41 cedera.
Malaysia perlu melabur dalam infrastruktur
Pengarah Eksekutif Ukrainian Prism, Hennadiy Maksak berpandangan, Malaysia juga tidak boleh bergantung kepada satu laluan, selain menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan negara-negara jiran.
Lebih 1,000 rakyat termasuk pejuang Hezbollah cedera parah
Lebih seribu rakyat Lubnan termasuk anggota pejuang Hezbollah dan petugas perubatan cedera parah dalam satu letupan pada Selasa.
Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional memudahkan operasi perdagangan antara Malaysia dan China
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz berpendapat inisiatif Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional (National single window) yang bakal diharmonikan Bersama system kastam China akan memudahkan operasi perniagaan dan perdagangan (ease of doing business) antara Malaysia dan China.
Medan selera perlu ditambah baik, kemudahan asas tidak lengkap
Air bergenang di lantai dan tempias sehingga meja makan mengakibatkan pengunjung basah. Itu situasi apabila keadaan hujan lebat di Medan Selera Taman Makmur di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang menempatkan deretan 12 kedai makan.
Calon manfaat platform media sosial dekati pengundi luar
Kempen Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota turut memberi tumpuan kepada penggunaan media sosial bagi menambat hati pengundi luar selain kempen secara bersemuka.
Seorang wanita maut jatuh lubang saluran air
Seorang wanita maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam lubang saluran air sedalam dua meter ketika menyertai aktiviti mendaki di Bukit Cherok Tok Kun pada Selasa.