Grizzlies take 2-1 series lead

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol scored 20 points and hit two free throws with 1:03 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the Grizzlies held off the Oklahoma City Thunder, 87-81, Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.

Gasol scored 16 in the second half as Memphis remained unbeaten at home in the postseason.

The Grizzlies pulled out the win in an ugly performance for both teams following a three-day layoff since Game 2. After struggling at the free-throw line in Oklahoma City, the Grizzlies hit all six at the line in the final 1:03 to clinch it.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points but only two in the fourth quarter. A 91% freethrow shooter in the regular season, Durant missed two with 39.3 seconds left.

Tony Allen had his best game of the series, scoring 14 points for Memphis. Jerryd Bayless added 11. Zach Randolph scored only eight points but had 10 rebounds.

The Thunder had its worst scoring and shooting performance this postseason. Reggie Jackson had 16 points for Oklahoma City, and Kevin Martin and Serge Ibaka each added 13. Durant went three for 11 from the f loor in the second half, and his teammates went a combined 23 for 69 for the game.

Memphis built leads repeatedly, getting to as much as 10 in the second quarter.

Memphis won despite not winning in the categories the Grizzlies usually dominate. The Thunder outrebounded them, 51-44, with a 14-5 edge on the offensive glass. The Thunder also outscored the Grizzlies, 4430, in the paint with a 23-7 edge on fastbreak points.

But the Thunder didn’t score after Derek Fisher hit a three-pointer with 1:58 left.

“Everything was good other than we couldn’t make a basket,” Thunder Coach Scott Brooks said after his team shot 33% in the second half, including 20% in the third frame.

“Eighty-eight shot attempts and we got pretty good looks. We missed a couple of easy, easy, easy [baskets]. I wish we could get those same shots.”