The Oklahoma City Thunder will go the rest of the playoffs without point guard Russell Westbrook after he was injured in the previous series and based on what happened in Game 1 of the second round against the Memphis Grizzlies, the team should be fine going forward.
Point guard Reggie Jackson, who has been filling in for Westbrook since he went down against the Rockets in Game 2, was clutch against the Grizzlies on Sunday, almost as clutch as Kevin Durant, who hit the winning shot with just 11.1 seconds left in the game. Jackson had his own chance to be clutch just moments before the shot, as he hit a pair of free throws with less than a minute to go to give the Thunder a three point lead.
The team was able to hang on despite Jackson fouling Quincy Pondexter on a 3-pointer with less than two seconds left, as he missed the first shot and made one before trying to score on the rebound of the last shot. The Thunder got production from everyone and the 93-91 victory was an important start as the team tries to make it back to the finals without Westbrook in the lineup. Kevin Martin was huge for OKC by scoring 25 points and the series could be close again, as the two teams met in the West semifinals last season, which went seven games after a game one loss by the Thunder.
Durant dropped 35 points in the game, while Pondexter missed the first free throw shot despite shooting over 70 percent from the line in his career. Derek Fisher was also clutch for OKC, as he pulled a stop on Mike Conley to keep the Grizzlies down and despite 18 points and 10 rebounds from Zach Randolph, Memphis couldn't pull out the win. The Grizzlies were leading the game at one point with a minute left, but they allowed OKC to score six points and only added one over the final stretch while also turning the ball over twice.
Jackson has been solid while playing for Westbrook, who is out after Houston rookie Patrick Beverley collided with his knee, forcing him to have surgery. Westbrook will be out for the remainder of the playoffs, leaving Durant as the primary scorer for the team.