Thunder 116, Grizzlies 100
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Oklahoma City Thunder won for the 12th time in 13 games, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 116-100 Wednesday night at the FedExForum.
Guard Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, forward Kevin Durant scored 18, and guard Jeremy Lamb added a career-high 18 points for Oklahoma City. Guard Reggie Jackson finished with 17.
The Thunder (17-4) pushed the lead to 24 points when forward Serge Ibaka (12 points) hit a short turnaround jump shot with 2:30 to play in the third quarter. The Grizzlies trailed 89-73 at the end of the quarter. They got within 14 when center Kosta Koufos scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a layup.
Oklahoma City pulled away from there. A 10-3 run that ended with a 3-pointer from Lamb at the 8:21 mark gave the Thunder a 99-78 lead.
The Thunder shot 56.3 percent (40 of 71) and were nine of 18 from 3-point range (50 percent). Memphis shot 42 percent (34 of 81) from the field, 40 percent behind the arc (six of 15).
Point guard Mike Conley led Memphis (10-11) with 20 points and nine assists. Power forward Zach Randolph contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, and forward Jon Leuer had 17 points off the bench.
The Grizzlies were within 33-30 with 4:19 to play in the second quarter after Conley hit a 12-foot floater. The Thunder then closed the half on a 15-5 run to take a 57-42 lead into the break. Conley was the only Grizzly to score in the last 4:19 of the half.
Durant had 16 points by halftime and Westbrook 15 as the Thunder shot 50 percent (18 of 36). They were also 16 of 18 (88.9 percent) from the free-throw line, where Durant and Westbrook combined to go 12 of 12. Oklahoma City had a 13-2 advantage on fast-break points.
Oklahoma City wound up 27 of 33 (81.8 percent) from the line. Memphis hit 26 of 34 foul shots (76.5 percent).
NOTES: Wednesday night's game marked the first meeting between the teams since Memphis beat Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals last season. Thunder PG Russell Westbrook was injured and didn't play in the series. Asked if the result might have been different had he been healthy, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, "That's a hypothetical, I wouldn't even go there." ... Grizzlies SG Tony Allen (hip) missed his fourth consecutive game, and F Ed Davis (ankle) sat out his third game. Thunder G Thabo Sefolosha (knee) missed his second straight. ... Memphis PF Zach Randolph was honored before the game as the NBA's Kia Community Assist Award recipient for November. Randolph distributed 900 Thanksgiving food baskets to two Memphis area high schools and turkeys and hams to 1,000 people at a community center in his hometown of Marion, Ind. ... Entering the game, Oklahoma City's reserves were averaging 32.1 points per game.
