Randolph powers Grizzlies past Thunder
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zach Randolph scored 31 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and Tony Allen made two late free throws to help the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-105 on Tuesday night.
Allen's two free throws with 15 seconds left gave Memphis a 108-105 lead. Thunder star Kevin Durant missed a deep 3-pointer on the next possession and Randolph sealed the win with two more foul shots.
After struggling early in the game, including three missed layups, Allen scored a season-high 19 points. He hit two 3-pointers after making just one all season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rudy Gay scored 27 points and Randolph added 16 rebounds, leading Memphis to a 42-31 advantage on the boards.
Durant and Russell Westbrook each scored 28 points for Oklahoma City. James Harden had 17.
Memphis led for much of the fourth quarter. Randolph's two free throws gave the Grizzlies a 106-101 lead with 49 seconds left, but Durant responded with two from the line to trim the deficit to three.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Grizzlies center Marc Gasol missed two free throws with 25 seconds remaining. Russell Westbrook made a layup, but Allen was fouled and dropped in the two key foul shots.
The Thunder are now 10-2 in games following a loss. They were coming off their worst defeat of the season, a 101-74 setback against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Grizzlies improved to 10-6 at home, but are near the bottom of the league in attendance. Even with Durant in town, the announced crowd was 12,765 fans.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Allen's performance provided a much-needed boost for the Grizzlies, who were thin at shooting guard. O.J. Mayo, a reserve who is averaging 13.2 points, did not play due to bronchitis. Rookie guard Xavier Henry missed the game with a sore knee.
Oklahoma City took a 67-62 lead in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Durant at the 7:55 mark. But the Grizzlies responded with an 8-0 surge capped by Mike Conley's layup. Memphis carried a 79-77 lead into the fourth.
Gay's right-handed dunk with 8 seconds left in the second sent the teams into halftime tied at 55. Randolph and Gay led Memphis with 16 points in the first half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NOTES: Harden has scored in double figures in a career-high 12 straight games ... Memphis is 10-11 against teams with .500 records or better ... Randolph has donated money to help with utilities payments for 100 Memphis families who were behind on their bills. ... The Grizzlies have won two consecutive games.