OKLAHOMA CITY —
The last time Memphis paid Oklahoma City a visit, most of the drama took place between the opposing teams.
But Thursday, with the Grizzlies back in town, it was the Thunder who provided all the fireworks on and off the court.
Oklahoma City (35-11) rolled to a 106-89 victory and improved to 20-3 at home. But it was an on-the-court eruption between Thunder guards Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha that became the topic of discussion after the game.
“It wasn’t nothing that hasn’t happened before with all of our guys,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. “It was nothing for us. We are an emotional group. Our guys are always playing with a competitive spirit. That’s what makes us a very good team for the last three or four years.”
After the game, Westbrook wasn’t in the mood to rehash what happened on the court or his reaction to the benching, which included him flipping his chair over and storming into the tunnel leading to the locker room.
“Nothing got me upset,” Westbrook said. “Just miscommunication. I control my temper like a man, like I did.”
Memphis, playing in its first game since trading Rudy Gay to Toronto, seemed to still be in the shock of not having their former leading scorer on the team anymore. It wasn’t until the second half that they began to play somewhat like their old selves as they cut a 26 point deficit to 11 in the fourth.
But that was as close as Kevin Durant and Kevin Martin would let the Grizz (29-16) get. They combined to score 10 points in the fourth to push the lead back to 20 before both teams cleared their benches.
Durant led all scorers with 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Westbrook added 21 points and nine rebounds.
Jerryd Bayless paced Memphis with 23 points as he replaced Gay in the starting lineup. Mike Conley chipped in with 17 points. Zach Randolph had a poor shooting performance (4 for 17), but hauled in 19 rebounds in the losing effort.
“I thought we played hard for the most part,” Memphis guard Tony Allen said. “But we just didn’t have an answer for them. We showed signs of weathering the storm. But they rained on us. You have to take your hat off to them. They played good. Next time we meet, they will be at our house.”
The shooting woes that plagued the Thunder in their loss to L.A. on Sunday evaporated in the first quarter against Memphis. As a team, they shot 80 percent from the field, despite racking up eight turnovers.
“I think our fans did a good job of staying with us,” Westbrook said. “Everybody came ready to play.”
With Randolph and Marc Gasol getting off to slow starts, Memphis stayed within striking distance behind Bayless. He erupted for 12 points in the opening quarter as the Grizz trailed by only 10.
However, the Thunder got its transition game rolling in the second period and pushed their lead to 24. Westbrook, who had been in a horrible shooting slump, was 7 for 10 in the first half as Oklahoma City led 58-34.
In the third, it began to fall apart for Oklahoma City. After Westbrook and Sefolosha got into a heated argument on the floor, Brooks benched Westbrook with the Thunder up by 21 points.
“Well, there was obviously a discussion on the court,” Brooks said. “On one of the offensive plays, we had some trouble with our spacing. Thabo cut over when he probably should have spotted up. There was a time-out and I decided to take Russell out because he needed to calm down. Russell went into the back. It was nothing, he just had to regroup.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies guard Jerryd Bayless (7) in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Jan. 31. Oklahoma City won 106-89. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Associated Press
Discussion
Thunder blowout Grizz as Westbrook has a blow up
All-Star guard benched after losing temper with teammate
- Sports
-
-
Sooners ride emotional wave to brink of third straight World Series
Moments after stepping on first base and beating out an infield bunt, Brianna Turang turned back and looked toward her dugout across the field and screamed at the top of her lungs, bringing both the crowd and her teammates to their feet....
-
Motivation beyond World Series propels Sooners
Oklahoma now returns to the scene of the crime. In the rain, well after midnight, Alabama did what nobody thought it might do only two nights earlier. Almost a year later, the Sooners have earned another chance....
-
Sooners beat Wildcats in 11 to make Big 12 tournament finals
OKLAHOMA CITY — Late-inning hits usually decide baseball games. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, it was the last out that was so difficult to secure. For 2 1/2 innings Oklahoma and Kansas State traded big hits around like they ...
-
Spurs take 3-0 series lead with overtime win over Grizz
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tim Duncan scored the first five points of overtime, and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 104-93 Saturday night and move a win away from the NBA Finals. The Spurs ...
-
OU’s Pendley, Ricketts help turn super regional into laugher
Seated next to each other in the postgame press conference, teammates Keilani Ricketts and Shelby Pendley both laughed softly after complimenting the other on their impressive performance on Saturday, their excitement showing through what ...
-
One year later, Williams seeks more in Paris
PARIS — In the moments immediately following her stunningly early exit from the 2012 French Open, as her eyes welled with tears and she bemoaned how she’s “been through so much in my life,” Serena Williams could not possibly find anything ...
-
Brooks easily wins regional
AUSTIN, Texas — Tia Brooks just keeps getting better and better. The reigning NCAA shot put champion, who spent last summer at the London Games competing for her country, delivered the second longest throw in women’s collegiate shot put ...
-
Field nearly set for WCWS
The field for the Women’s College World Series is half-way set. Joining OU is Michigan, Washington and Tennessee, which all punched their tickets on Saturday. Four more teams will join the field after today’s super regionals are decided....
-
Pokes fail to pick up a win
OKLAHOMA CITY — Playing only for pride, Oklahoma State left Bricktown Ballpark as one of only two teams not to win a game in the Big 12 Tournament....
-
Proudfoot lifts Texas Tech over Baylor
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tim Proudfoot singled twice, doubled and drove in five runs to lead Texas Tech to an 8-2 win against Baylor in the Big 12 baseball tournament....
- More Sports Headlines
-
