Kyle Weaver joins the list of Thunder players out due to an injury, and newcomer Chucky Atkins is taking his place in the rotation. Not that it has done any good thus far for Oklahoma City, currently trailing to the lowly Memphis squad.
Racing out to a double-digit advantage, the Grizzlies hit nearly every shot in the opening quarter. The visitors kept the Ford Center quiet by answering every Kevin Durant bucket and not giving the Thunder a chance to recover.
OKC fought back from 13 down in the second quarter behind Atkins and Nenad Krstic but are still behind 49-42 with five mintues left in the half.
Have I mentioned before that Durant has a strong case for the All-Star game? He was picked for the sophomore squad along with Jeff Green today, but his play is making a run for inclusion on the big stage.
Durant gave the fans a reason to cheer when his lay-up put the Thunder ahead before the end of the second quarter. Memphis came back to lead by one going into halftime, but the momentum was all with OKC. The Grizzlies squandered away their large advantage and will have to find a way to stay close in the third quarter.
Green would have none of that, however, keeping Memphis on the defensive with multiple 3-pointers. He knocked down five straight treys, the last putting the Thunder back up 72-70.
Desmond Mason needed to be helped off the court with a possible knee injury late in the third, the only low point in the game. Mason was injured blocking a shot, and his teammates have picked up the pace in response.
An 8-0 run opened up OKC's largest lead of the night at seven as the Grizz continue to struggle in back-to-back games. The lead grew to 10 for the Thunder on another big play by rookie Russell Westbrook as the home squad closed out the third in a big way.
It was the second straight game in which the third quarter belonged to OKC, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Memphis returned the favor in the fourth, holding Durant and Co. under twenty points and forcing OT.
The extra session belonged to the home team, as the Thunder scored 14 unanswered points and won going away 114-102. Durant's final line said the whole story: 35 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks.
If that isn't an All-Star deserving line, I don't know what is!
The Grizzlies fought hard for their new coach, but they now have to welcome OKC in the 11-win club. It was the Thunder's second straight victory and seventh of January, solidifying the first winning month in franchise history.
I will be back tomorrow with an update on Mason and the potential trade partners if a two-guard is now needed.
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