Upset that he let his teammates down with one of the worst games of his career, Kevin Durant vowed to be more aggressive so it wouldn’t happen again.
Mission accomplished.
Durant scored 39 points on 25 shots Sunday and Russell Westbrook had a triple- double, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-90 victory over Memphis in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
After scoring just 11 points in Friday’s Game 6 loss, Durant went to the basket early and often in this one to help the franchise reach the conference finals for the first time in 15 years.
“I just attacked,” said Durant.
“I was so upset with myself for letting my guys down by not playing my game (on Friday). I wasn’t aggressive at all,” he said. “But I stayed with it. I was just positive and confident and kept the faith in the things that got me here.”
The fourth-seeded Thunder took control of the game near the end of the third quarter, burying the scrappy Grizzlies under a barrage of three-pointers before snuffing out any spark of a comeback in the fourth.
They moved on to face the third-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who swept the Lakers in the other conference semifinal. Game 1 is Tuesday in Dallas.
Mike Conley had 18 points and Zach Randolph scored 17 to lead the Grizzlies, who had stayed alive with a comeback win in Game 6, but failed in their bid to become the first No. 8 seed ever to reach the Western Conference finals.
“We had a heck of a run,” said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.
Westbrook had 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his triple-double, while James Harden scored 17 off the bench, including a trio of three-pointers during the Thunder’s big third quarter.
But the team’s success this season has had more to do with Durant than anyone else, which is why the Thunder couldn’t afford a repeat of Game 6, when the NBA’s leading scorer shot just 3-of-14 and all but disappeared as Memphis took control in the second half.
“I guess I can say it now: He stunk last game,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “But he doesn’t take anything for granted, so I knew he would come back and have a fantastic game.”
Durant overcame a slow start shooting to go 13-of-25 from the field, including 4-for-9 from three-point range after he was just 1-for-9 on Friday.
He scored 13 points during Oklahoma City’s 30-24 third quarter, hitting a pair of threes during a 14-2 run. But Harden provided the biggest fireworks. He knocked down a trio of three-pointers, including one that gave Oklahoma City its largest lead till that point at 69-53, and twice buried threes with the clock winding down.
Isolated against O.J. Mayo at the top of the arc, Harden dribbled back and forth between his legs, getting enough separation for a three-pointer that dropped in the final second to make it 72-58 heading into the fourth.
The Grizzlies never got closer than 13 the rest of the way, while the Thunder pushed their lead as high as 20.
The loss ended a spectacular run for Memphis, formerly among the NBA’s most downtrodden franchises, which had never even won a playoff game before knocking top-seeded San Antonio out in the first round.
What’s next, after the hangover of a playoff push that surprised most onlookers?
“Vacation,” said Randolph. “I wish we could still be playing, but you know … ” and then his voice trailed off.
Oklahoma City Thunders On; Top Memphis In Game 7 to Move On 105-90
Upset that he let his teammates down with one of the worst games of his career, Kevin Durant vowed to be more aggressive so it wouldn’t happen again.
Mission accomplished.
Durant scored 39 points on 25 shots Sunday and Russell Westbrook had a triple- double, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-90 victory over Memphis in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
After scoring just 11 points in Friday’s Game 6 loss, Durant went to the basket early and often in this one to help the franchise reach the conference finals for the first time in 15 years.
“I just attacked,” said Durant.
“I was so upset with myself for letting my guys down by not playing my game (on Friday). I wasn’t aggressive at all,” he said. “But I stayed with it. I was just positive and confident and kept the faith in the things that got me here.”
The fourth-seeded Thunder took control of the game near the end of the third quarter, burying the scrappy Grizzlies under a barrage of three-pointers before snuffing out any spark of a comeback in the fourth.
They moved on to face the third-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who swept the Lakers in the other conference semifinal. Game 1 is Tuesday in Dallas.
Mike Conley had 18 points and Zach Randolph scored 17 to lead the Grizzlies, who had stayed alive with a comeback win in Game 6, but failed in their bid to become the first No. 8 seed ever to reach the Western Conference finals.
“We had a heck of a run,” said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.
Westbrook had 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his triple-double, while James Harden scored 17 off the bench, including a trio of three-pointers during the Thunder’s big third quarter.
But the team’s success this season has had more to do with Durant than anyone else, which is why the Thunder couldn’t afford a repeat of Game 6, when the NBA’s leading scorer shot just 3-of-14 and all but disappeared as Memphis took control in the second half.
“I guess I can say it now: He stunk last game,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “But he doesn’t take anything for granted, so I knew he would come back and have a fantastic game.”
Durant overcame a slow start shooting to go 13-of-25 from the field, including 4-for-9 from three-point range after he was just 1-for-9 on Friday.
He scored 13 points during Oklahoma City’s 30-24 third quarter, hitting a pair of threes during a 14-2 run. But Harden provided the biggest fireworks. He knocked down a trio of three-pointers, including one that gave Oklahoma City its largest lead till that point at 69-53, and twice buried threes with the clock winding down.
Isolated against O.J. Mayo at the top of the arc, Harden dribbled back and forth between his legs, getting enough separation for a three-pointer that dropped in the final second to make it 72-58 heading into the fourth.
The Grizzlies never got closer than 13 the rest of the way, while the Thunder pushed their lead as high as 20.
The loss ended a spectacular run for Memphis, formerly among the NBA’s most downtrodden franchises, which had never even won a playoff game before knocking top-seeded San Antonio out in the first round.
What’s next, after the hangover of a playoff push that surprised most onlookers?
“Vacation,” said Randolph. “I wish we could still be playing, but you know … ” and then his voice trailed off.
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