Oklahoma City Thunder AT Memphis Grizzlies
May 09, 2011 at 9:30 PM EST
Opening Line:  MEM -2.5
Current Line:  MEM -2
Opening Moneyline:  MEM -150, OKC +130
Current Moneyline:  MEM -135, OKC +115
Opening Total:  182
Current Total:  180.5

O.J. Mayo did something in game 3 that he hadn’t done all season:  played like the O.J. Mayo of his rookie season (08-09), when he averaged better than 18 points per game.  This season, his minutes went from 38 (his career average) down to 26.  His shot attempts fell from 14.4 to 10.5 while his field goal percentages plummeted as well.  Mayo shot only 40% from the floor in the regular season.  His field goal percentage was still bad Saturday as he went 6 of 18, but it was seeing his aggression and swagger back that was impressive.

With the Grizzlies second leading scorer in Gay being out due to injury, Mayo’s play becomes that much more important.  When Mayo gets hot, he sometimes demands a double team.  The only other Grizzly that statement is true as well for is Zach Randolph.

On Randolph, he got his points Saturday as well, 21 of them to be exact, but he needed 22 attempts from the field to do it, and he missed 3 of his 8 free throws.  However, in a total act of redemption, he did pull down a game high 21 rebounds.

Mike Conley played well yet again.  He played all but 56 seconds of the and finished with 18 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.  He was the only Grizzly starter to shoot above 50% from the field.  Tony Allen (40%), Marc Gasol (28%), Randolph (36%), and Sam Young (33%).  As a team, the Grizzlies shot 37.8% from the field.  The sad part, however, is that Oklahoma City was even more dismal at 36.6%.

Westbrook and Durant combined for their usual havoc, scoring 45, but they weren’t efficient and received little help, while failing to have a breakout game themselves.  Durant went 10 of 24 from the floor and only 2 of 7 from three, while Westbrook was even worse, attempting 22 shots and only hitting 7 (though he did go a perfect 8 of 8 from the line).  James Harden came back down to earth after scoring 21 in game two and he managed only 12 points, missing 4 of his 5 three point shots.  The Thunder now find themselves in a must win game 4.  Going down 3-1 would be hazardous against a team that defends as well as Memphis.

The bad part for the Thunder is how it happened.  They had a 13 point lead going into the fourth quarter but hit just 4 of 18 shots in the fourth and went on to lose by 9.  A lot of people were quick to blame Oklahoma City floor general Russell Westbrook.  Scott Brooks was quick to defend him:

“It wasn’t all Russell,” Brooks said. “It was some, so he’s a part of it. It was Kevin, it was guys that were out there including myself. We have to do a better job making sure we’re all running every set, every offensive play with great energy.”

Durant isn’t letting the pressure of a pivotal game 4 get to him.  He realizes that they can just as easily come out tonight and put the pressure back on Memphis by reclaiming home court advantage with three games left to play.

“We’re good on bounce-back games, and hopefully tomorrow is another case of that,” Durant said. “Going through adversity is part of the playoffs, and we just have to push through it.”

Some betting trends:

OKC Is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games and the Thunder are 18-7 SU in their last 25 games.  The total has gone UNDER in 8 of OKC’s last 12 road games and they are 9-4 SU in their last 13 on the road.  The Thunder are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games and the total has gone OVER in 7 of their last 8 games against the Grizzlies.  OKC is 1-4 SU in their last 5 against Memphis and they are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 against Memphis.  OKC is 1-4 SU in their last 5 road games in Memphis and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of OKC’s last 6 games on the road against the Grizzlies.

Memphis is 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games and the total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis’ last 6 games.  The Grizzlies are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games and the total has gone UNDER in 9 of their last 13 at home.  The Grizzlies are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home and the total has gone OVER In 7 of their last 8 games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Grizzlies are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Oklahoma City and the total has gone UNDER  in 4 of their last 6 home games against the Thunder.  The Grizzlies are 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games against the Thunder.

Tonight’s game should be an interesting one to see how the Thunder adapt and find better shots for Westbrook and Durant.  It’s one thing to have two dynamic scorers that are now even being compared to Wade and LeBron, but if you can’t get them quality of shots because the other three players in the starting lineup (Perkins, Sefolosha, and Ibaka) are defensive players with little to offer on the offensive end of the court.