Grizzlies grab 2-1 lead as Durant fizzles late

Marc Gasol scored 20 points and hit the go-ahead free throws with just over a minute left as the host Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 87-81 to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Derek Fisher, who has had a history of clutch postseason shots, hit a 3pointer with 1 minute, 58 seconds, to tie the game at 81-81 as the Thunder battled back from a nine-point deficit early in the fourth quarter.

Gasol, who scored 16 in the second half, was fouled by Serge Ibaka with 1:03 left and nailed two free throws as the Grizzlies scored the final six points of the game from the line.

Tony Allen and Mike Conley contributed 14 points apiece and Jerryd Bayless added 11 for the Grizzlies.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points to lead the Thunder and extend his streak of 20-plus points to 35 straight playoff games, but he struggled in the second half.

Durant had just nine points on 3-for-11 shooting after halftime and missed a jumper and two free throws in the final minute.

Smith gives it a go: Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith, who missed the morning shootaround because of an illness and was a game-time decision, played in Saturday night’s Game 3 against the Pacers.

Smith entered the game with 5:09 left in the first quarter and missed his first shot— a 3-point attempt— a little more than a minute later.

He averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the first two games of the series, whichwas tied 1-1.

Game-time decision: The Warriors announced X-rays on guard Stephen Curry’s injured left ankle were negative and that his availability for Sunday’s Game 4 against the Spurs is uncertain.

Curry is officially listed as a game-time decision.

Curry suffered the injury near the end of Friday’s game in which scored 16 points on 5-for-17 shooting.