Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, bottom right, was called out-of-bounds and the ball awarded to the Thunder in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 93-91.OKLAHOMA CITY – Down by one in the final minute, the Oklahoma City’s Derek Fisher turned a tough situation for the Thunder into the worst-case scenario for the Grizzlies.
Fisher poked the ball away from Memphis’ Mike Conley, springing three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant into the open court with a chance to put the Thunder on top.
Durant pulled up and connected on a jumper with 11.1 seconds left for the last of his 35 points, lifting the Thunder to a 93-91 victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
“I just wanted to get up the floor as quick as possible and find a shot,” said Durant, who finished second in league MVP voting announced Sunday. “That was the only shot I could find and, by the grace of God, it went in.”
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.