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Grizzlies shake down the Thunder

Mar 8, 2011 - 6:27 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Mike Conley scored 20 points and dished out nine assists as all five Memphis starters reached double-digit scoring in the Grizzlies' 107-101 win over Oklahoma City at FedExForum.

Marc Gasol recorded 18 points and six rebounds while Zach Randolph donated 17 points and six boards for the Grizzlies, who have won two straight and five of the last seven overall. Tony Allen added 20 points and Sam Young scored 12 to round out the starters.

"From one through 15, all the guys came to play," Allen said.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points to pace the Thunder, who had a three-game win streak halted. Kevin Durant tallied 23 points and grabbed six rebounds while James Harden and Serge Ibaka scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, in the loss.

The Thunder came roaring back at the end third quarter to make up for an interesting fourth quarter

After Randolph opened the final frame with a jumper, OKC scored the next six points to cut it to a two-point deficit. With four minutes left in the game, Westbrook's three-point play got OKC within one, 93-92, but it was never able to tie or take the lead.

Conley had a steal and went coast-to-coast with just under two minutes to play to put the hosts up 100-94. Then Conley nailed a jumper with 31.4 ticks left to keep the margin at six.

Memphis was unable to completely close the door, though, by missing three free throws during the final 30 seconds. OKC, however, could not stake a comeback.

The Grizzlies held a 25-24 lead heading into the second and a 13-5 run during the latter stages of the first half put Memphis up 54-44. O.J. Mayo then hit a layup with 5.7 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 58-46 advantage at the break.

"Our defensive effort wasn't where it needed to be," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said of his team's first half effort.

Memphis built it to a 17-point edge, 73-56, following a pair of Young free throws with five minutes left. But that lead was cut to six by the end of the quarter as the Thunder scored 17 of the final 23 points of the quarter.

Durant's three-pointer with 60 seconds left cut it 79-72 and Thabo Sefolosha's free throw made up for the 79-73 score heading into the final frame.

Game Notes

Memphis won three of the four meetings this season between the two clubs...Both teams struggled from the free throw line. Memphis went 17-of-26 from the line, while OKC went 11-for-18...Both teams shot 52 percent from the field, but Memphis made just 2-of-12 from beyond the three-point arc.