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NBA
Mike Conley

Grizzlies hold off Thunder, move to 6-0

AP
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) attempts a shot against; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β€” Mike Conley scored 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-89 on Friday night to remain unbeaten.

Oklahoma City had a chance to take the lead with 5.9 seconds remaining, but the Thunder were called for a five-second violation. Oklahoma City then fouled Courtney Lee, who made one of two free throws. That gave the Thunder the ball, down two, with 2.4 seconds to go. Serge Ibaka missed a 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key at the buzzer.

Lee scored 17 points and Zach Randolph added 16 for the Grizzlies (6-0).

Reggie Jackson had 22 points for the Thunder (1-5), who again played without injured stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and several other key players.

Memphis led 49-40 at halftime, then scored the first four points of the second half before the Thunder called a timeout.

Oklahoma City charged back when Ibaka and Jackson hit back-to-back 3s to cut Memphis' lead to two and get the crowd back into the game. Memphis took a 66-62 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies began the final period on an 8-3 run to pull ahead 74-65, but a two-handed jam by Ibaka cut it to 78-76 with just more than 5 minutes to play. Jeremy Lamb hit a 3-pointer that tied it with just over 4 minutes remaining.

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Memphis committed only three turnovers in the first half. … Leading scorer Marc Gasol was held to two points on 1-for-5 shooting in the first half. He finished with eight. … Memphis made 14 of 17 free throws, while Oklahoma City hit just 3 of 11.

Thunder: Lamb played for the first time this season after missing the first five games with a lower back strain. He finished with 17 points. … The Thunder announced earlier in the day that they signed G Ish Smith. He entered with 4:14 left in the second quarter. … Lance Thomas, a training camp invitee, got his second start.

UP NEXT

Memphis visits Milwaukee on Saturday.

Oklahoma City hosts Sacramento on Sunday.

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