Grizzlies Steal One In OKC – NBA Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers both managed to even their Western Conference quarterfinal series at a game apiece. The Grizzlies did it with a tight finish, while the Clippers enjoyed a laugher.

In Oklahoma City, Zach Randolph scored 25 points and provided the go-ahead basket as the Grizzlies downed the Thunder 111-105 in overtime. He hit a layup with 26 seconds left to put Memphis ahead 107-105 and added a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to ice the victory.

Mike Conley added 19 points and 12 assists for the Grizzlies.

Kevin Durant had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the second-seeded Thunder, who are just 5-5 since April 3. Russell Westbrook scored 29 points for Oklahoma City but made just 11 of 28 shots.

Game 3 is Thursday in Memphis.

The Clippers posted their most lopsided playoff victory in franchise history, racing out to a 67-41 halftime lead before completing a 138-98 dismantling of Golden State. Blake Griffin had 35 points in less than 30 minutes for the Clippers, whose previous greatest margin of victory in a playoff game was 25 points against Phoenix in 2006. The Clippers shot 57 percent from the field, with Griffin hitting 13 of his 17 attempts.

Danny Granger finished with 15 points and Chris Paul added 12 and 10 assists.

Stephen Curry was the lone Warrior to score more than 11 points, contributing 24.

The Warriors host Game 3 on Wednesday.

UNDATED (AP) — Mike Woodson owns a .580 winning percentage as head coach of the New York Knicks, third best in franchise history. It wasn't good enough.

Woodson has been let go in the first official move under recently-hired president Phil Jackson. The dismissal comes after the team finished 37-45 and failed to make the playoffs, just a year removed from an Atlantic Division title.

The Knicks aren't the only NBA team in need of a head coach. The Utah Jazz have declined to offer Tyron Corbin a new contract after the team posted the worst record in the Western Conference at 25-57. Corbin took over for Jerry Sloan three years ago and had a record of 112-146.

And Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has decided to retire after 23 seasons in the NBA. The decision brings to an end a career in which he had 1,042 victories, eighth on the NBA's career list.

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Chicago center Joakim (JOH'-keem) Noah is the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, joining Michael Jordan in 1988 as the only Bulls players to win the award.

Noah got 555 out of a possible 1,125 points, including 100 out of a possible 125 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Indiana's Roy Hibbert and DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers came in second and third, respectively.