The NBA's back-to-back reigning scoring champ, Kevin Durant, was 1-6 from the field in the first half in the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, so you can forgive the Grizzlies a little for being unprepared for the offensive onslaught that was to come in the second half. A little.
Kevin Durant Unstoppable In 98-95 Thunder Win Over Grizzlies
Kevin Durant missed just one shot in the second half, scoring 32 points leading the Thunder to a thrilling 98-95 victory over the team they bounced from the Western Conference Semifinals last year, the Grizzlies.
Durant turned it around in the biggest way in the second half, going 9-10 for the field, scoring 32 points in the game, including six of his team's last eight in the final two minutes, destroying Rudy Gay's stout one-on-one defense. His last three field goal attempts barely touched the rim, and the Thunder held off the Grizzlies, 98-95, for their third straight win to open the season. The Grizzlies fell to 0-2.
Russell Westbrook, like Durant, started the game cold, but never warmed up. He shot an astonishing 0-13 from the field, but was 4-4 from the free throw line, including two that helped ice the game away in between Durant's brilliance. James Harden chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and he looks like the prohibitive early favorite for Sixth Man of the Year.
Zach Randolph was his usual clutch self, including a late three-pointer from several paces behind the line to give the Grizzlies a glimmer of hope, and finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Rudy Gay started out ice cold, but picked it up later in the game to help Z-Bo in the Grizzlies' comeback attempt, but finished with 19 points on 24 field goal attempts. He did grab 12 rebounds.
For updates and info on these two teams, check out Thunder blog Welcome To Loud City and Grizzlies blog Straight Outta Vancouver.
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