Gay hits game-winner with 1.3 seconds left and Grizzlies top Thunder 86-84

Gay and Grizzlies sink Thunder, 86-84

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rudy Gay hit a 20-footer with 1.3 seconds left to finish with 25 points and the Memphis Grizzlies extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 10 with an 86-84 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points for the Thunder, but his desperation 3-point attempt from the left wing at the horn bounced off the rim, snapping Oklahoma City’s three-game winning streak.

Zach Randolph matched Gay’s 25 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Mike Conley added 14 points. Hasheem Thabeet didn’t score, but blocked four shots and grabbed nine rebounds.

Jeff Green finished with 15 points and, like Durant, had eight rebounds for the Thunder.

The score was tied at 84 when Green blocked O.J. Mayo’s shot with 24 seconds left, but Gasol stole the ball from Durant and set the stage for the final play.

Gay took the ball at the top of the key and dribbled time off before hitting the game-winner over Durant.

Gay’s winning basket was the only points by Memphis in the final 4:14.

The two youngest teams — the average age for Memphis’ active roster is just under 25 years old and the average age of Oklahoma City’s is about 25½ — appear to be moving in the right direction. Both are over. 500 as the All-Star break approaches.

Memphis built the lead to double digits in the first half behind the 3-point shooting from Conley and breakaway dunks by Gay. Conley connected on his first three shots beyond the arc. Gay had 15 points in the half, including a pair of dunks off turnovers, and Conley had 11.

But Memphis couldn’t hold the lead as Durant, who struggled early — he started 2 of 8 from the field — keyed a second-quarter comeback for Oklahoma City.

The league’s third-leading scorer hit his next four shots by taking the ball inside and getting to the foul line.

That keyed a 23-8 run to close the half, erasing a 14-point Memphis advantage and giving the Thunder a 49-48 lead at halftime.

Durant had 19 for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder continued to push the defensive intensity after halftime, forcing Memphis outside its comfort zone.

That didn’t allow Oklahoma City to build a significant lead, however, as the Thunder also struggled from the field.

Randolph scored 14 in the quarter, including the Grizzlies last nine points. Memphis led 72-69 going into the final period.

The teams exchanged leads in the early part of the final stanza until Memphis broke a 75-all tie with a 9-2 run, the final four coming from Randolph.

But Oklahoma City made another run, and Durant’s dunk with just under 2 minutes left tied the game at 84.

NOTES: Memphis coach Lionel Hollins has promoting that Randolph should be on the All-Star team. “Zach, frankly, deserves it,” Hollins said. When asked if he would lobby for Randolph’s inclusion, the Memphis coach replied: “It’s something I will do. I wouldn’t think that you have to, but it’s part of the process.” Thunder F/C Nick Collison returned to action after missing the last two games with a concussion. The Thunder remain one of only three Western Conference team with a winning record on the road. Oklahoma City is now 12-10 away from home. Dallas and the Lakers are the other two in the West. Durant has 17 straight games of at least 25 points. Memphis has not lost at home since losing 110-105 to Boston on Dec. 14.