The Memphis Grizzlies enter Game 5 with a 3-1 lead and will look to eliminate the reigning Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Arena on Wednesday. That came can be seen live on TNT at 9:30 p.m. ET and can be streamed live online here or heard live here via ESPN radio.
The Grizzlies overcame a 17-point deficit on Monday to extend their series lead over the Thunder. The team that prides itself on hard-nosed, gritty defense managed to force Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant into another poor late-game shooting performance.
Durant went 2-of-13 in the 4th quarter and overtime combined after converting 8-of-14 attempts through the first three. He was 0-of-7 when guarded by Tayshaun Prince during that span.
Memphis also used NBA all-first team defensive player Tony Allen to deny Durant the ball on 4 possessions down the stretch and force two Oklahoma City turnovers, including a steal with 21 seconds left in overtime and Memphis up by 3 points. Allen was also a key offensively during crunch time, scoring on a driving layup to open overtime and help give Memphis an advantage.
Memphis has yet to lose at FedEx Forum this postseason and is now 19-1 at home since February 8th. However, with the series heading back to Oklahoma City, the Grizzlies will look to capture another road win in hostile territory.
"We are a team that just plays hard and doesn't quit," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told ESPN after the win. "We scratch. We claw. They said grit and grind. I don't know what the heck that means, but we go out and we just battle. We compete. We're not the most talented team that's in the playoffs when we started out. We're not the most talented team that's left in the playoffs. But we go and compete."
The Grizzlies have won only two playoff series in their short history as a franchise. The team will look to change that Wednesday night.
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