NBA 2018-19: 3 talking points from Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder

#2 Memphis put up a solid fight; miss Mike Conley down the stretch

The Grizzlies traded franchise cornerstone Marc Gasol to the Raptors recently.

The Grizzlies outscored the Thunder in each of the first three quarters, leading 75-67 at the start of the fourth. It was only when a minute of play was left that Westbrook hit a three to tie the game, closely followed by a go-ahead jumper to end it all.

Russ and his go-ahead bucket. pic.twitter.com/YwLOLLb9fO

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 4, 2019

As Westbrook scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth and deciding period, helping his team come back from a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes or so, Memphis remained unresponsive. One of the pivotal aspects of what prevailed in the dying minutes of the game was the itching absence of Mike Conley who is revered as the Grizzlies' go-to man in such situations.

"You know in the fourth quarter we rely heavily on Mike, so it was somebody different we were having to find tonight, and that's just a matter of us getting comfortable and familiar with one another and growing and learning from it.", explained Coach Bickerstaff.

The Thunder held the Grizzlies to 6-of-21 shooting in the fourth.