Thunder beat Grizzlies in second game to level series in NBA West

OKLAHOMA CITY // Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Oklahoma City's reserves provided plenty of scoring support as the Thunder beat Memphis 111-102 to level their NBA Western Conference second-round series.

Russell Westbrook added 24 points and his backup, Eric Maynor, chipped in 15 as the Thunder knotted the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

James Harden scored 21 points off the bench for the Thunder, who were surprised at home by the Grizzlies in game one and now face the next two games in Memphis, starting with game three on Saturday.

Maynor's three three-pointers and seven points from Harden helped the Thunder take control early in the fourth quarter.

"I expect James Harden especially and Eric Maynor to have at least one big game in the series," Grizzlies forward Sam Young said. "They are great players and they are in this position for a reason.

"We expect big things out of them and that's why we have to prepare a little better and come out next game with more intensity."

When the two left the game and Durant and Westbrook returned with less than five minutes to play, they received a standing ovation.

The Thunder reserves outscored those of Memphis 48-29.

"That's what they've done all year, and that's why we are in this position, because they've done either a good job of catching up or extending leads," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "I thought they were outstanding tonight."

Memphis tried to rally as Mike Conley, who scored 24 points, hit two three-pointers and converted a three-point play.

Tony Allen made two free throws to get the Grizzlies within 104-98 with less than a minute remaining, but they could get no closer.

Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who combined for 52 points for Memphis in the Grizzlies' game-one triumph, scored a combined 28 points on Tuesday as they made just five of 22 points.

Randolph, who notched a playoff career-high 34 points in game one, made just two of his 13 shots and scored 15 points.

Spain's Gasol was three for 19 with 13 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds.

"It was a classic desperate team, more aggressive team," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "They came out and attacked."

Back home on Saturday, the Grizzlies will continue their bid to become the first eighth-seeded team to reach the Western Conference finals.

"It's going to be a physical series and it's going to be long. We didn't think it would be easy," Gasol said. "We go home with a split and that's better than 0-2."

The winner of this series will face either the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks for a chance to face a team from the East for the NBA crown.

The Mavericks shocked the Lakers in Los Angeles in game one of that series, and will try to build on that advantage in game two tonight.