Thunder deliver a loud message

Kevin Durant scored 19 points, reserve Daequan Cook added 18, and the Oklahoma City Thunder followed their triple-overtime triumph with a 99-72 blowout of the Memphis Grizzlies last night to take their first series lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Thunder lead, 3-2, heading into Game 6 tomorrow night in Memphis. They got there with ease considering what happened two nights earlier.

Marc Gasol had 16 points to lead Memphis, which matched its lowest point total from the regular season and played like it was still drained from Monday’s emotional loss in their building that knocked them out of control in the series.

The Grizzlies shot a season-worst 36 percent and were far enough behind that Durant and Russell Westbrook didn’t even have to play in the fourth quarter.

By the end, Durant was wearing one of the same white Thunder T-shirts as the sellout crowd and was standing on the sideline directing the lineup of reserves that got to play in garbage time.

“We played great defense. Everyone was in tune,’’ Durant said. “It was a group effort.’’

The Grizzlies were a ragged bunch throughout the game after losing the triple-overtime thriller, 133-123, on their home court.

Zach Randolph, who played 56 minutes in Game 4, never was effective. He finished with just 9 points and seven rebounds. Gasol, his partner in the potent frontcourt, did most of his damage during a 6-minute stretch in the third quarter.

Then the Grizzlies fell hopelessly behind.

Oklahoma City’s Nick Collison turned a rebound into a 3-point play. When he converted the free throw, it completed a string of seven straight points by the Thunder to bump the lead to 65-46 late in the quarter.

Memphis didn’t stand a chance of a comeback. Too many missed layups. Too many shots that clanked off the front rim. Too little energy left.

These Grizzlies, like their stubborn coach, refuse to give in

He's done an amazing job with these Grizzlies, convinced a handful of second-chance players to believe in themselves (and each other) and created a storyline that's turned this city into an "NBA Town" for the first time in a long time, and arguably ever. But one of Hollins' weaknesses -- though it can be a positive at times -- is that he can be a hard-headed SOB less interested in change than showing you he won't, which is why it was surprising when he announced before tipoff that O.J. Mayo would start instead of Sam Young.

Really, Lionel?

"They were just clamping down on Zach [Randolph] with two or three guys," Hollins answered when asked to explain his reasoning. "We felt like if we put a shooter out there they would have to honor him."

Or succumb to him.

Mayo started and played 39 minutes, made six shots and finished with 16 points while pushing the Grizzlies to a 95-83 win over Oklahoma City late Friday that'll give the world its first Game 7 of these NBA Playoffs. Tipoff for that game is Sunday afternoon at 3:30 ET in Oklahoma City. The winner will face the Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.

"We're gonna go there and try to make it a close game," said Grizzlies forward Shane Battier. "We're gonna try to sneak one out."

The night began in a truly "Memphis" way with the Reverend Al Green singing the national anthem before a sellout crowd of 18,119. He was so good that several players started the anthem facing the United States flag with their backs to the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer but slowly turned around to catch a glimpse.

"That was pretty sweet," Battier said. "He's a big reason why my wife and I are married. … Can I say that?"

Yes, Shane. As long as your wife doesn't mind.

Anyway, Battier's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer was the only thing that allowed the Grizzlies to be down by just 10 points after 24 minutes, and though folks were still waving those "Believe" towels it would be dishonest to suggest everybody still actually, you know, believed. The Thunder were outplaying Memphis for the fifth consecutive game. They seemed on their way to a series-finishing victory, but then their best player -- and the world's best scorer -- stopped making shots and Oklahoma City stopped scoring points.

Kevin Durant was 1-of-10 from the field in the second half.

He missed contested shots and open shots.

He missed runners and long jumpers.

"It was frustrating to go out there and prepare so hard and not play as hard as I wanted," said Durant, who finished with just 11 points on a 3-of-14 shooting effort. "But I have to stay positive."

While Durant was missing shots, Randolph and Mayo were taking advantage of each other's presence. Randolph was 7-of-13 for 20 points in the second half while Mayo was 4-of-6 for 10. They combined for 46 points in the game, helped Memphis outscore the Thunder by a 51-29 margin over the final 24 minutes and complimented each other afterward.

"[Mayo starting] definitely makes a difference because you have to guard O.J.," Randolph said. "He can make shots from outside so it opened up a little bit in the paint. We had great spacing. They had to guard our perimeter."

And now the Thunder will have to do it again -- one last time.

Because Hollins made a lineup change and put a shooter in the court.

And because that shooter opened things up for the Grizzlies' best post player to operate.

Stubborn?

Yeah, Hollins is still a stubborn dude.

But he put that personality trait aside on this night.

Consequently, the Mavericks will have to wait till Sunday to find out their next opponent.

"He's just a coach -- a good coach," Mayo said when asked about Hollins' stubbornness. "He came to this franchise and turned it around with his headiness and toughness, and we resemble him a lot. He's got an old-school mentality. Good teams resemble good leaders, and he's the leader of this thing."

Of this thing that lived to play one more game … at least.

Thunder evens series against Grizzlies with triple overtime win

Kevin Durant scored six of his 35 points in the third overtime, and the Oklahoma City Thunder survived a thriller in holding off the Memphis Grizzlies, 133-123, in a game that ended Tuesday morning.

With the victory, the Thunder grabbed back home-court advantage and tied this Western Conference semifinal at 2-2.

Game 5 is on Wednesday night back in Oklahoma City. The winner of this series will play the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals.

Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 40 points. James Harden added 19, and Daequan Cook had 10.

The Grizzlies ran out of energy in the third overtime as they hit just one of nine from the floor.

Zach Randolph led Memphis with 34 points and 16 rebounds. Marc Gasol had 26 and 21 rebounds.

O.J. Mayo had 18 and Mike Conley 16 before both fouled out. Greivis Vasquez had 14.

Conley forced the first overtime with his lone 3 of the game. Vasquez, the rookie playing because Conley had fouled out late in the first overtime, hit a 3 to set up the second overtime. Gasol scored on a tip-in that set up the third OT.

The Thunder had their chances to win at the end of regulation and each overtime.

Westbrook's jumper hit the rim before the buzzer to end the first 48 minutes. Durant, the NBA's leading scorer, had a 3 fall short of the basket at the end of the first overtime, and Westbrook's long jumper grazed the front of the rim at the buzzer ending the second overtime.

In the third overtime, the Thunder finally took control.

Miami 98, at Boston 90 (OT): LeBron James scored 35 points, Dwyane Wade had 28 and Chris Bosh had 20 as the Big Three dominated the Celtics and gave the Heat 1 3-1 edge in series.

"Wednesday night will be our greatest challenge that we've had with this group so far," Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We'll get their best games on Wednesday. And we have to be better. If we're real about what we want to do, we have to beat the Boston Celtics at their best."

One game after their worst performance as a threesome, James, Wade and Bosh had 83 of Miami's 98 points and 35 of its 45 rebounds.

They scored all 12 of Miami's points in overtime; Bosh and Wade had five apiece after James' fallaway jumper on the Heat's first possession of the extra period gave them the lead for good.

"We're the guys. We're the ones who get all the attention. We're the ones that get all the praise," Wade said.

"This team is going to go as far as us three takes it."

Paul Pierce scored 27, Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett had seven points and 10 rebounds for Boston. Rajon Rondo, who dislocated his left elbow Saturday in Game 3, played 39 minutes with a padded sleeve covering what appeared to be a brace on his left arm, scoring 10 with five assists.

Boston would need to win the next three games, two in Miami, to have a chance to defend their Eastern Conference championship.

"These are those moments. I look forward to it," Allen said.

"Everybody on this team, we know what to do. We can't talk about it; we just have to put our best foot forward.

Cavaliers get the better of LeBron James for a night

In an unbearable season of losses, Cleveland got the win it wanted most.

The Cavaliers took down LeBron James.

Despite blowing a 23-point lead, the Cavaliers battled back and beat the Miami Heat, 102-90, on Tuesday night, getting a dose of revenge against James, who was making his second homecoming visit to Cleveland since leaving last summer.

J.J. Hickson scored 21 and Anthony Parker scored 20 for the Cavaliers, who were embarrassed by James and the Heat, 118-90, on Dec. 2 — a night when Cleveland fans unleashed their hatred on the superstar.

This time, James left the court hanging his head. He finished with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

In the closing seconds, a sellout crowd of 20,562 cut loose at a victory even the most loyal Cleveland fan couldn't have imagined. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who accused James of quitting in last year's playoffs after the two-time most valuable player announced in a TV special that he was joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, high-fived anyone within reach.

On the court afterward, Parker, whose last three-point shot with 2:47 left capped a 12-0 run and put the Heat away, addressed the fans.

"You guys deserve it," he said.

The Cavaliers were a different team — literally — from the one that lay down against the Heat in December. Injuries and trades have reduced Cleveland's roster to a shell of the one James played with and helped win 60 games last season.

The Heat rallied from 23 down, and tied it at 83-all on Mike Bibby's seventh three-pointer with 7:03 left. But Miami, which wasted a chance to move into second place in the Eastern Conference, went scoreless for 4:24, allowing the Cavaliers to get their 15th win and their most lopsided victory this season.

Wade scored 24 for the Heat, which had its winning streak stopped at five.

at Oklahoma City 115, Golden State 114 (OT): Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Russell Westbrook hit the winning free throw with 11.4 seconds left in overtime for the Thunder. Durant scored eight of Oklahoma City's nine points in overtime but served as a decoy to create room along the right side of the lane as Westbrook drove to the basket and was fouled. Westbrook missed his first free throw but made the second to put the Thunder on top. The Warriors' Monta Ellis missed a jumper from the top of the key at the final buzzer. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 35 points.

Houston 112, at New Jersey 87: Kyle Lowry had 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and the Rockets moved to within two games of the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Kevin Martin scored 20 points as Houston won for the sixth time in seven games. Brook Lopez had 22 points for the Nets, who lost their third in a row and seventh in eight games. Deron Williams sat out his sixth straight game for New Jersey, which has lost 50 games for the second straight season.

at Sacramento 116, Phoenix 113: Marcus Thornton scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds and the Kings won their season-high fourth straight game. The loss was the third straight and eighth in 11 games for the Suns, who have watched any hopes of the playoffs practically disappear over this stretch.

Thunder look every bit like a contender

When it was over, when the Thunder finished throttling the Heat Wednesday night, my thoughts turned to Boston and L.A.

For a night at least, the Thunder reminded me of the Celtics and looked like the most dangerous threat to unseat the Lakers in the West.

“They’re better,” Dwyane Wade said of Oklahoma City. “They did a great job getting themselves prepared for the Western Conference. They are going to be right there in the thick of things, because they have added some beef up front. And they have athleticism.”

Yeah, the acquisition of Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed appears to have transformed the Thunder from a dangerous playoff team to legitimate contender. Wednesday night’s 96-85 road win at American Airlines Arena was the Thunder’s fifth straight.

The outcome said far more about the Thunder than the big-game-weary Heat.

“Tonight is not one of those games where you feel bad about how you played,” LeBron James said. “We can be satisfied with this loss because we know we kept a team shooting 40 percent from the floor. We couldn’t make any shots. ... It is nothing to hold our heads (down) about.”

That’s because first and foremost Oklahoma City is San Antonio’s and Dallas’ and Los Angeles’ problem to deal with long before the Heat would face the Thunder in the NBA Finals.

Wade and James are probably tickled with joy knowing Boston sent Perkins to OKC. The Celtics used to be as long, strong, deep and athletic as the Thunder.

In restoring their confidence during a three-game winning streak, Wade and James lived at the rim, slashing to the basket in Miami’s halfcourt offense and finishing in the paint or drawing a foul.

Wednesday, the Thunder contested everything. James and Wade sank a combined 15 of 42 shots. Perkins, Mohammed, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant and Nick Collison challenged nearly every shot in the paint. They only blocked four, but their defensive effort caused Miami to shoot 38.5 percent from the field.

“We have a lot of athletic, versatile defenders,” Collison said. “We keep it tight in the paint.”

The Thunder looked like a young Boston. Their legs are fresher. They get off the ground quicker. And now Perkins and Mohammed give Oklahoma City added toughness and six hard fouls.

The Heat were clearly frustrated. Late in the fourth quarter, Wade had a chance to cut OKC’s lead to five. Ibaka contested Wade’s fast-break drive, the refs swallowed their whistles and Wade erupted when his missed shot wasn’t bailed out by a foul call. He drew a tech. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra drew one, too, complaining about the no-call.

“When we were able to break free to get opportunities that looked like they would normally be paint-rim opportunities for us,” Spoelstra said, “they either blocked, challenged or forced us into some tough misses. That started to frustrate us a little bit, and I think that affected our defensive focus.”

Wade is shooting a career-high 50 percent from the field this season. Wednesday, he was seven of 21.

“We did a great job of making it tough on him,” Durant said. “We made it tough on him all night. Luckily he was missing some shots. It was a great job by our bigs.”

I understand the Celtics had to move Perkins. He and the Celtics couldn’t agree on a new contract. But, man, he makes the Thunder a whole lot better. OKC dominated the boards Wednesday, outrebounding the Heat 51-40 and collecting 17 offensive boards.

It will be interesting to see if the Thunder have enough offense to win a seven-game playoff series against the Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks. There is no doubt OKC will be able to get the necessary fourth-quarter defensive stops.

I like the Thunder’s chances. OKC’s bruising big men are sort of like hockey enforcers for Durant. KD is free to roam the ice like Wayne Gretzky. Despite facing a motivated James most of the game, Durant had little trouble scoring 29 points. Early in the game, Durant got to the rim on backdoor cuts. When James took that away, Durant relied on his quick-release jumper.

“This team came in and got the win,” Wade admitted nonchalantly. “They beat us. You can accept that.”

That’s respect. The Heat know they faced a championship-caliber team on a hot streak.