The Oklahoma City Thunder, who are struggling to score without point guard Russell Westbrook, will try to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole tonight at 9:30 against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum tonight. Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals can be live streamed for free here; fans of the Thunder can listen to the action at ESPN 1420 AM while Grizzlies fans can hear the game at 92.9 FM.
Kevin Durant has been Mr. Do-It-All for the Thunder in Westbrook's absence. The Durantula is averaging 32 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 44 minutes per game in this second round series, yet still finds his team down 2-1.
He has gotten very little help from power forward Serge Ibaka, who is shooting a woeful 31 percent from the field, and averaging 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. During the regular season, Ibaka averaged 13.2 points per game and 7.7 boards while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
Durant sounds like a leader when he says things like, "Same situation we was in a few years ago, so we know how to handle it. We can't come into practice today and with our heads down moping around because we lost the basketball game. We just got to keep moving forward, keep fighting and we'll be fine." The only problem is that no one is questioning his leadership or play.
Secondary scorers Kevin Martin and Ibaka need to stop going cold late in games, and Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said as much. "This is a broken record, but I know we can hit shots," Brooks said. "I've seen the ball go in the basket many, many times with our team, and I have confidence that will happen and hopefully soon."
Meanwhile, Durant is on a mission to play even better than he already has, to free up the rest of his teammates. "I have to put them in better position," Durant said. "I have to make shots to free them up. I have to continue to help their confidence grow every time down. I got to do a better job. That's how I look at it."
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