Congratulations to the OKC Thunder as they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Thunder will face the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals beginning Tuesday night. This time the Grizzlies couldn’t stop Kevin Durant, as he scored 39 points. Russell Westbrook contributed a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists).

Former Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just four points on 2-of-6 shooting over 28 minutes. He did contribute four rebounds. Grizzlies fans you should be proud of your overachievers!

The Eastern Conference Finals began Sunday night as the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Miami Heat. The Bulls blew out the Heat 103-82 (the two teams were tied at the half). The Bulls outscored the Heat in the second half 55-34. The Bulls out-rebounded the Heat 45-33. The Bulls had 23 assists to the Heat’s 11. The Bulls forced 16 Heat turnovers. A complete Bulldozing!

Former Dukie Luol Deng scored 21 points, hauled in seven rebounds, and had four steals. Deng played 45 minutes and hit 4-of-6 three-pointers. The other former Blue Devil on the Bulls, Carlos Boozer, had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting over just 26 minutes. He also had nine rebounds.

Check out Kissing the Rim for all the Bulls coverage.

OKC Wins Game 7, 105-90 NBA.com

Oklahoma beat Memphis to reach Conference finals Reuters

Thunder oust Grizzlies as Kevin Durant answers bell with 39-point Game 7 ESPN

Chicago takes Game 1, 103-82 NBA.com

Bulls lead Miami Heat 1-0 Bulls.com

The Memphis Grizzlies forced Game 7 as they defeated the visiting OKC Thunder 95-83 in Game 6. The Thunder scored just 29 points in the second half and shot just 29% in the second half.

Offensively for the Grizzlies, Zach Randolph scored 30 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. Mike Conley scored 11 points and dished out 12 assists, OJ Mayo scored 16 points, and Tony Allen scored 10 points.

Former Duke Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting over 28 minutes. He also had five rebounds and two assists, but it was his defense that helped carry the Grizzlies to the win.

So the ESPN announcers stated that Battier’s bucket at the end of the half to cut the OKC lead from 13 to 10 was a big basket. That carried over into the second half. Oh and Battier played GREAT defense on Kevin Durant in the game. Durant shot just 3-of-14 in the game (nine of which came from three-point land and were kind of terrible looks).

Game 7 will be played in OKC on Sunday afternoon.

Memphis pulls away, 95-83 NBA.com

Back to the City ESPN.com

Grizzlies push Thunder back to OKC for Game 7 HuffPost Sports

Grizzlies bear down, force Game 7 vs. Thunder NBC Sports

Grizzlies defeat Thunder, Force Game 7 Aerys Sports

Why Memphis loves its Grizzlies ESPN.com

The OKC Thunder pummeled the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 99-72 to take a 3-2 series lead. Marc Gasol was the only Grizzlies player to score in double-figures (he had 15 points) though ten players scored. The Grizzlies were out-rebounded 50-33 and shot just 35.9% from the field (compared to OKC’s 47.4%).

The Thunder had four players score in double-figures, with two of them coming off the bench (Nazr Mohammed and Daequan Cook).

Former Dukie Shane Battier did not score in the game (0-for-3 shooting) in just 15 minutes. He did haul in three rebounds.

OKC rolls past Memphis, 99-72 NBA.com

Thunder blow out Grizzlies in Game 5 Yahoo Sports

Durant, Thunder ease past Grizzlies 99-72 Associated Press

Photo Finish: Thunder 99, Grizzlies 72. Thunder Take 3-2 Lead Straight Outta Vancouver

Grizzlies mindful of flood victims Hang Time Blog

Mike Conley hit a three-pointer to tie the game for the Memphis Grizzlies as time was running out. Former Dukie Shane Battier played great defense on the OKC Thunder in-bounds pass to keep the Thunder from getting a good shot off. The game headed to overtime for the second straight game. The Thunder took a quick lead in overtime and the Grizzlies were left trying to comeback again.

They cut the lead to 107-106 with 48.8 seconds left. Former Maryland star Greivis Vasquez hit a three at the end of overtime to tie the game at 109, sending the game into double overtime.Vasquez was forced to play as OJ Mayo and Conley fouled out.

Greivis Vasquez tying shot

It was a back-and-forth 2OT when Battier gave the Grizzlies a lead with 1:49 to go. He missed his favorite corner three, but hustled for the rebound and hit the floater. Vasquez gave the Grizzlies a three-point lead by cashing in on a three-point play with 1:22 to go, but the Thunder kept tying the game up.

Triple OT. I felt like I was watching a college basketball tournament game where the players left everything on the court. The Thunder outlasted the Grizzlies in 3OT 133-123 to tie the series at 2-2. When it was over (around 12:40 am Memphis time), fans cheered and saluted the effort put forth by the Grizzlies despite the loss.

The Grizzlies jumped out to a big, early lead from the start (28-16 lead after the first quarter), but the Thunder rebounded to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

Battier scored seven points on 3-of-6 shooting over 38 minutes. He added three rebounds and three assists.

OKC wins epic Game 4, 133-123 NBA.com

Grizzlies refuse to quit, force three overtimes before falling to Thunder 133-123 Go Grizzlies

It was a privilege just to be at Game 4 of Grizzlies-Thunder series Go Grizzlies

Shane Battier having major impact for Grizzlies against Kevin Durant, Thunder SB Nation

Thunder Survive Grizzlies in TRIPLE OVERTIME Aerys Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies rallied to beat the OKC Thunder 101-93 in Game 3 of their conference semifinal (and first game in Memphis). The Grizzlies had five players score in double-figures with Zach Randolph leading the way with 21 points and 21 rebounds. The Grizzlies held the Thunder combo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to 45 points on just 17-of-46 shooting. Westbrook also had seven turnovers.

Former Duke Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just two points on 1-of-2 shooting in 24 minutes. He also had four rebounds.

Grizzlies rally, top Thunder in OT SI.com

Memphis wins Game in OT, 101-93 NBA.com

BBQ, Grizzlies sizzling in Memphis NBA.com

Shane Battier gets stuck in elevator Detroit Free Press

Sorry for the delay in my former Duke NBA playoff player update. I just couldn’t stay awake for the finish of the OKC-Memphis game last night.

After letting Memphis stay close for much of the game, the Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 111-102. The Thunder did not want to leave OKC down 0-2 heading to Memphis. The Thunder again received 20+ points from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but received 21 points off the bench from James Harden. For the Grizzlies, five players scored in double-figures, but just one (Mike Conley) scored more than 20 points. Former Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just four points off the bench on 2-of-4 shooting over just 14 minutes.

OKC wins Game 2, 111-102 NBA.com

Can Grizzlies win it all? Bleacher Report

Grizzlies are Upstarts, not Champions CBS New York

Thunder even series with Grizzlies Fox Sports

Grizzlies owner admits they’ve been lucky Ball Don’t Lie

It took Memphis six games to dispatch the number one seed San Antonio Spurs. Their reward? To play the Oklahoma City Thunder just two days later.

The Grizzlies didn’t show any signs of fatigue as they beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City 114-101. Despite getting 33 points and 11 rebounds from Kevin Durant and 29 points from Russell Westbrook (though he took 23 shots and turned the ball over seven times), the Thunder had no answer for the Grizzlies big men as Zach Randolph scored a playoff career-high of 34 points and Marc Gausol scored 20 points. The Grizzlies forced 18 OKC turnovers (which led to 23 points). Randolph had 10 rebounds and three steals. Gasol had 13 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

Former Duke Blue Devil Shane Battier scored 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes. He also had five rebounds and two steals.

Memphis Surprise  & Take Game One Against OKC 114-101 Aerys Sports

Grizzlies’ offense overwhelms OKC ESPN

Grizzlies big men think outside the paint TrueHoop

Memphis takes Game 1, 114-101 NBA.com

Grizzlies are no longer Cinderella’s Instant Analysis

Up three games to two on the number one seed San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies held off the Spurs to win their first ever playoff series.

They won 99-91 in front of their hometown fans as they had their third straight sellout. The Grizzlies became just the second 8 seed to upset a number one seed since the expansion of the NBA Playoffs.

The Grizzlies shot a little over 50% for the game compared to just 43% for the Spurs.

Former Duke Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just two points on 1-1 shooting but hauled in seven rebounds over 24 minutes.

* Memphis moves on to the second round to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Read up on all your Memphis Grizzlies news:

The Memphis Grizzlies have made history Yahoo Sports

Grizzlies finish off top-seeded Spurs AP

Grizzlies Make History Once Again Aerys Sports

Walking in Memphis: It’s crowded out there Spurs Nation

How do the Thunder match up with the Memphis Grizzlies? NewsOK

Oklahoma City Thunder: 10 Bold Predictions for the Memphis Grizzlies Series Bleacher Report

Dan Patrick interviewed Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies about his game winning shot and the birth of his baby girl around the same time. Apparently his teammates told him to get home to see the birth (and he showered first before driving to Houston). Patrick asked Battier if the nursery would be decorated in Grizzlies or Duke colors:

“It’s always Duke. Duke is forever. This is my legacy. When I’m old, fat and gray, people won’t remember me for my NBA career as much as they will for my Duke career. Blue-and-white.”

He added that Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs ranks from 5-7 as one of the toughest guys to guard in the NBA.

*Check out the full article for Sports Illustrated. The first two pages are the interview.

Flickr/Keith Allison

The Philadelphia 76ers gave the Miami Heat everything they had in the series, but it wasn’t enough as the Heat took Game 5 and the series. Former Duke Blue Devil Elton Brand scored 14 points in the first half as the Sixers were down by just three at halftime. Brand would score 22 points in the game on 10-of-17 shooting over 37 minutes, but fouled out late in the game. The Sixers head into the offseason while the Heat will meet the Boston Celtics in the next round.

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs Game 5 went right down to the wire. With 9.4 seconds left, the Spurs lost the ball, then got the ball back before Manu Ginobili hit a game-tying shot with 2.2 seconds left. Or did he? Replays show he may have been on the line and the refs went to the cameras to be sure…and the refs overturned the call to just a two pointer, 95-94 Grizzlies lead. Zach Randolph hit HUGE clutch free throws with under a minute left (four total) for the Grizzlies.

GARY NEAL HIT A 3 AT THE BUZZER to send the game into overtime! A rookie from Towson hits the big shot for the Spurs. The Spurs carried that momentum into overtime as they won 110-103. The Spurs live to play another game. Game 6 will be Friday night. Former Dukie Shane Battier scored six points on 2-of-5 shooting over 33 minutes.
The Sixers are one (big) piece away Hang Time Blog

Miami edges Philly to advance NBA.com

Bring on the Celtics! Heat Move Past Sixers into Round 2 A-T-Elle Hoops

NBA history should inspire Spurs to write own comeback tale NBA.com

Gary Neal sends Spurs to Overtime against Grizzlies (video) SBNation