The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies have played one of the best series of the NBA playoffs so far this year and with the teams tied at 1-1 heading into Game 3, there is a chance for one to take the momentum in the Western conference and put themselves in position to make it to the conference finals.
The Grizzlies have the chance to win two games in a row as the series shifts to Memphis, where the team has played so well this season, and with the win in Game 2, the Grizzlies took home court advantage away from the Thunder, one of the best teams in the league during the regular season. The Thunder are the number one seed in the conference and after finishing the Houston Rockets in six games, the series against the Grizzlies will go at least that far due to the win by Memphis in Game 2.
The Thunder have had to deal with playing without point guard Russell Westbrook for the first time in his career, forcing Kevin Durant to step up even more than he has already this season, averaging 37 points per game through the playoffs. Westbrook was originally hurt in Game 2 of the series against the Rockets when rookie Patrick Beverley collided with his knee, forcing him to suffer a meniscus tear that needed surgery, keeping him out of the rest of the playoffs. Westbrook had not previously missed any time for the Thunder during his career and now the team has needed to rely more on Reggie Jackson and he has been solid through the Rockets series.
The Grizzlies have been off since winning 99-93 on Tuesday night and that break has been the longest for them since the All-Star break, giving Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph some much needed rest and putting pressure on the Thunder after losing at home after already dropping a game there against the Rockets. Kevin Martin and Derek Fisher have been solid for the Thunder since losing Westbrook and Quincy Pondexter has improved since missing a free throw at the end of Game 1 that could have helped send the game into overtime after he was fouled at the last second while taking a three by Reggie Jackson.
The Thunder have been excellent at home all season and went 26-15 on the road, while the Grizzlies have lost just nine games while going 32-9 at home at FedEx Forum this year. Marc Gasol has been a beast as the defensive player of the year and Durant has been clutch for the Thunder, leading the team in scoring, rebounds and assists without Wesbrook, while Zach Randolph is tops in scoring and rebounds for the Grizzlies. Mike Conley has been stellar through the playoffs and he has put himself in the top part of the conversation for the best point guards in the league.