The Oklahoma Thunder lost against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night in Game 2 99-93 to even up the series at 1-1 after a late three pointer from Mike Conley and Kevin Durant's near triple double of 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists wasn't enough to lift OKC. The Knicks demolished the Pacers 105-79 to even up their series at 1-1 after 32 points and nine rebounds from star Carmelo Anthony.
In the previous round the Thunder and the Houston Rockets played an intense series that went six games after the Rockets won two games in a row after being down 3-0. During the series Thunder point guard Derek Fisher took a charge that appeared clean, but after review the NBA fined him for flopping.
According to ESPN.com, Fisher was fined $5,000 after officials looked at video from Game 5 that showed he flopped after taking a charge from Rockets center Omer Asik. The play occurred in the second quarter of the game after Fisher and Kevin Martin went down to try and take a charge on Asik, who was driving and was called for an offensive foul.
Officials looked at footage from the game and decided to fine Fisher, making him the second player to be hit with a penalty for the new flopping rules this postseason, following Jeff Pendergraph, who was hit for his flop against the Knicks on Sunday in the Pacers Game 1 win at Madison Square Garden. The new rules for flopping have a $5,000 fine for the first offense and the double to $10K for the second before going up to $15K for the third offense and $30K for the fourth. The Thunder won Game 1 against the Grizzlies and will be looking for a 2-0 series advantage with a win on Tuesday.
The Thunder had an amazing finish to Game 1 that saw Kevin Durant hit a fantastic go-ahead shot and after the Grizzlies couldn't convert free throws the team lost and the Thunder went up 1-0. The team has played very well without Russell Westbrook and the play of Derek Fisher has been a huge factor with him being out. Westbrook has never missed any games in his career and the veteran leadership of Fisher has proven to be a he advantage for the Thunder as they try to make it back to the NBA finals for the second straight season.
