wed them to open a best-of-s

[lw789]

OKLAHOMA CITY - Even without injured stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City made the latest chapter of its rivalry with Memphis look like many of the previous ones.Oklahoma Citys Serge Ibaka missed what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Memphis held on for a 91-89 win Friday night to remain unbeaten.The Thunder won last seasons first-round playoff series 4-3, and four of the games went to overtime. The Grizzlies expected the same kind of game, even with the Thunder short-handed.Its just the OKC-Memphis rivalry, said Mike Conley, who led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Its always going to be close, no matter whos out there.Conleys 3-pointer with 38.3 seconds left gave Memphis the lead for good.It was a good look, he said. We moved the ball well that possession. It seemed like me and Courtney (Lee) were playing buddy ball there, trying to figure out whos going to take the shot. We got a good look, and we just happened to stick to it and make it.Oklahoma City had a chance to take the lead with 5.9 seconds remaining, but the Thunder were called for a five-second violation. Oklahoma City then fouled Lee, who made one of two free throws. That gave the Thunder the ball, down two, with 2.4 seconds to go.Ibakas shot from beyond the top of the key just missed.Serge put it up, teammate Reggie Jackson said. From where I was it looked like it had a good chance. Unfortunately, it didnt go in.Lee scored 17 points and Zach Randolph added 16 for the Grizzlies (6-0).Jackson had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Jeremy Lamb scored 17 points, Ibaka scored 16 and Steven Adams added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder (1-5).Memphis led 49-40 at halftime, then scored the first four points of the second half before the Thunder called a timeout.Oklahoma City charged back when Ibaka and Jackson hit back-to-back 3s to cut Memphis lead to two and get the crowd back into the game. Memphis took a 66-62 lead into the fourth quarter.The Grizzlies began the final period on an 8-3 run to pull ahead 74-65, but a two-handed jam by Ibaka cut it to 78-76 with just more than 5 minutes to play. Lamb hit a 3-pointer that tied it with just over 4 minutes remaining.Thats when Memphis experience kicked in.Fortunately, were a team that doesnt win by a lot of points, Conley said. Big wins are 10, 11 points for us. So were used to playing in late-game situations — being down two, being down one, going down to the last minute.__TIP-INSGrizzlies: Memphis committed only three turnovers in the first half. ... Leading scorer Marc Gasol was held to two points on 1-for-5 shooting in the first half. He finished with eight. ... Memphis made 14 of 17 free throws, while Oklahoma City hit just 3 of 11.Thunder: Lamb played for the first time this season after missing the first five games with a lower back strain. ... The Thunder announced earlier in the day that they signed G Ish Smith. He entered with 4:14 left in the second quarter and played 5 minutes. ... Lance Thomas, a training camp invitee, got his second start.___INJURY BUGDurant, Westbrook, Grant Jerrett (left ankle surgery), Mitch McGary (broken left foot), Anthony Morrow (left MCL sprain), Andre Roberson (left foot sprain) and Perry Jones (bruised right knee) all sat out for the Thunder.___UNFAMILIAR TERRITORYThe Thunder started just one player, Ibaka, who was a starter during last seasons first-round series, eliminating much of the familiarity that came from three playoff matchups in four years.___QUOTE OF THE NIGHTWe expected them to come out and play with nothing to lose, Conley said of the Thunder. Those guys are NBA players. A lot of those guys have played on a lot of other teams. We expected them to come out and show what theyve got.___UP NEXTMemphis visits Milwaukee on Saturday.Oklahoma City hosts Sacramento on Sunday.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP. Candido Ramirez Jersey . An offseason trade acquisition from Kansas City, Greinkes National League debut was delayed by a non-baseball injury in the spring, and he was 0-1 after dropping an 8-0 decision at Atlanta in his initial appearance with the Brewers on May 4. Alan Pulido Jersey . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamshop. ... co-jersey/. -- Lara Gut of Switzerland regained the overall World Cup lead with Sundays super-G win in Lake Louise, Alta. Jesus Manuel Corona Jersey . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game. Carlos Salcedo Jersey . Here are some of the best from Week One and some to watch in Week Two: TOP PERFORMERS Anthony Allen, RB, Saskatchewan (176 YDS, 2 TD, 30 touches vs. Hamilton) - Powerfully-built back burst onto the scene in his CFL debut, after a couple of years in the NFL, playing 21 games with the Baltimore Ravens.DURBAN, South Africa -- The Sharks say they have signed former England and British Lions prop Matt Stevens for two years and the front-rower will return to Durban to play in this years Currie Cup. The Sharks say Stevens, who was born in Durban, will join in August. Sharks chief executive John Smit says Stevens "versatility" makes him "a great acquisition too our squad.dddddddddddd" He will provide backup for the Sharks in the Currie Cup when Springboks front-rowers Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis are likely to be on international duty. Now with Saracens, the 31-year-old Stevens played 44 tests before retiring in 2012. He was banned for two years from 2009-11 after a positive drug test for cocaine. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '