Grizzlies beat Thunder in overtime for 2-1 series lead

Mike Conley scored five of his 20 points in overtime, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 98-95, on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

The Grizzlies won their second consecutive overtime game after blowing a fourth-quarter lead. This time, they led by 17 before going cold for most of the final 7:43 of regulation. Courtney Lee clinched the victory by making three of four free throws in the final 10.9 seconds of overtime.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Memphis.

NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each scored 30 for the Thunder, who even got another four-point play in the final minute to force overtime. This time, it was Westbrook’s turn with 26.6 seconds left.

But Durant missed all eight of his three-point attempts and was 10 of 27 from the field. Westbrook was 9 of 26. The Thunder hit only 3 of 12 shots in overtime.

Zach Randolph scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds for Memphis, which now has won 15 straight at home.

Tony Allen, who scored 16 points for Memphis, gave the Thunder one final chance at an improbable play to keep the game alive. After Lee split his free throws with 1.7 seconds left, Westbrook was racing up the right sideline trying to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Allen tripped Westbrook, sending him to the line for three attempts. Westbrook hit the first, missed the second and then clanked the third off the rim on purpose. But Ed Davis tipped away the ball to seal the win for Memphis.

Marc Gasol scored 14 points for Memphis. Beno Udrih added 12 points, and Lee finished with 10.

Serge Ibaka had 12 points for the Thunder, which went 5 of 28 beyond the arc.

at Atlanta 98, Memphis 85: Jeff Teague of the Hawks flung in a wild three-pointer after the officials missed him stepping out of bounds, and Kyle Korver finished off the Pacers from beyond the arc.

Hardly playing like a No. 8-seeded team that finished six games under .500 during the regular season, the Hawks took control in the third quarter, the decisive period in all three games. Teague scored 22 points and Korver added 20 to lead the Hawks.

Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 21 points, and Luis Scola added 17 in another stellar performance off the bench that at least gave Indiana hope.