Grizzlies grind out win, take 2-1 series lead over Thunder

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies kept home-court advantage on Saturday that it stole from Oklahoma City, but it wasn't easy.

Memphis had to close the game with six consecutive points, all on free throws, to take an 87-81 victory in Game 3 at FedExForum to open a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.

Game 4 is Monday night.

Marc Gasol scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half to lead the Grizzlies. Tony Allen and Mike Conley had 14 each and Jerryd Bayless added 11.

The Thunder's Kevin Durant, who had scored 35 or more points in five of his last six playoff games, was held to 25 points on 9 of 19 shooting from the field. Reggie Jackson added 16 and Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin had 13 each.

"We got away with a lot of things tonight," said Gasol, who played a long stretch of the second half with four fouls. "We played the right way at the end, and I'm happy about that."

A Derek Fisher 3-pointer pulled the Thunder into an 81-81 tie with 1:58 left before two Gasol free throws gave the Grizzlies an 83-81 edge with 1:03 left.

After an Oklahoma City timeout, Allen forced Durant to miss a 7-footer with 55.9 seconds and Conley hit two free throws with 50.5 seconds left for an 85-81 lead.

Durant, a 90 percent free-throw shooter, amazingly missed two from the line with 39 seconds left after being fouled by Gasol. After a Grizzlies turnover and a missed Fisher 3-point shot, Conley hit two free throws to seal the deal.

"We just gutted it out," Grizzlies' coach Lionel Hollins said. "It wasn't pretty, but it was pretty for us, because we got the win. I told our team after the game that 'I've got a crazy, crazy, crazy bunch of competitive guys.' They're screaming and yelling at each other, but they go out there on the court and try to win."

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks wasn't distraught about the loss, because his team did just about all the necessary things required to beat the big, physical Grizzlies.

They held a 51-44 advantage on the boards (19-9 in offensive rebounds) and limited the Grizzlies to just three second-chance points after allowing the Memphis 23 second-chance points in Tuesday's 99-93 Game 2 won by the Grizzlies. Oklahoma City had 14 turnovers compared to 21 in Game 2.

"For the most part, we did what we wanted to," Thunder reserve forward Nick Collison said. "We eliminated their offense rebounds and eliminated our turnovers."

The Thunder also forced the Grizzlies to miss 44 shots (30 of 74), holding Memphis to 40.5 percent shooting.

But the Thunder couldn't shoot straight, either as they missed 56 shots (32 of 88, 36.4 percent), including 4-for-20 in the third quarter when Memphis went from a 45-44 halftime deficit to a 66-60 lead entering the final period.

Martin and starting forward Serge Ibaka were the worst third-quarter shooters, combining to hit just 1 of 8 shots. Martin had an excuse since most of his shots were contested, but Ibaka was often wide open.

"We have to get him some shots and get him going," Durant said Ibaka, who missed two dunks and finished 6-for-17 from the field. "We can't let him put too much pressure on himself. If he thinks he's going to make those shots, then he's going to make them. We have to continue to give him confidence and I have to pick him up."

Martin, who scored 13 points on 6 of 17 shooting, took the Thunder's lousy shooting performance in stride.

"We've made shots all year, so we're not too concerned about it," Martin said. "That's the easiest part of the game. We did everything to win the game but make shots. We just got to keep competing. We'll figure this shot thing out."

Maybe so, but in the second half, Hollins put his two best perimeter defenders, Allen and Quincy Pondexter, on Durant and Martin. Durant scored one basket in the final quarter.

"I give credit to my coach," Allen said. "I was a little nonchalant yesterday (Friday) at shootaround, so I went home and watched a lot of film. I had to key back in and it carried over. I refocused and I kept talking to all the guys and told them to keep focused."

Notes: The Grizzlies are 18-1 at home in the last three months. ... Gasol is averaging a postseason high 18.7 points and Conley is averaging postseason highs of 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.3 steals. ... Thunder point guard Jackson had his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. But in his zeal to be aggressive and push the pace, he made a couple of critical mistakes in the closing minutes, including being whistled for charging while driving to the basket with 1:31 left and the game tied 81-81. Next Jackson fouled Conley, who hit two free throws. "If I don't charge, Fish (Derek Fisher) makes a layup and we go up two (points), it's a different story," Jackson said. "Then, I foul Conley, another bonehead play. I went for a steal, stuck my hand in there and Conley did a great job of locking it up. That's two bonehead plays for myself. "I'm not going to use that (being young) as an excuse. You've got to know better."