OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder became familiar with Memphis grind-it-out defensive style while losing to the Grizzlies during last seasons NBA playoffs. [url=https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/160s-art-harris-jersey-supersoni cs.html]Art Harris Jersey[/url] . On Monday night, the Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder became familiar with Memphis grind-it-out defensive style while losing to the Grizzlies during last seasons NBA playoffs. Art Harris Jersey . On Monday night, the Thunder beat Memphis at its own game. Kevin Durant had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Serge Ibaka had 21 points and 12 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their home dominance, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 86-77. Oklahoma City (39-11) had a 10-game winning streak snapped Saturday at Washington, but the Thunder moved to 21-3 at home while winning their seventh straight game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. In doing so, the Thunder posted its second-best defensive outing of the season. Oklahoma Citys inside quartet of Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Steven Adams and Nick Collison combined to limit Memphis potent frontcourt duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol Meanwhile, Thabo Sefolosha limited Memphis Courtney Lee -- who scored 24 points in the last meeting between the teams -- to 11 points. Memphis finished 2 of 16 from 3-point range. "I thought we did a good job of playing tough defensive basketball throughout the game," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "One of the strengths of our team, obviously, is our versatility. I think tonight it showed that sometimes you have to play different styles of basketball to get a win." Randolph had 13 points and 13 rebounds and Gasol added 13 points for Memphis (26-21), which lost for the second time in 13 games. The Grizzlies had won six straight games, the NBAs longest winning streak entering Monday. "We didnt play the basketball that we normally play," Randolph said. "We made bad decisions at important times of the game. There were a lot of turnovers, including myself, but youve got to be smart. And weve got to hit shots." Coming off a remarkable January during which he averaged 35.9 points per game on 54.9-per cent shooting, Durant finished 11 of 21 from the field. Ibaka went 10 of 17 from the field and posted his 19th double-double of the season while helping lead the Thunders interior defence. Oklahoma City finished with nine blocked shots, four of those by Adams, a career high for the rookie from New Zealand. "Steven only had three points and five rebounds and Perk only had one point and eight rebounds, but both impacted the game," Brooks said. Memphis, which trailed by 17 points late in the first half, pulled within three points three times in the final 6:45, the last time at 78-75 after Lees driving 5-foot jumper with 4:54 left. Durant answered with a 14-foot jumper, then after an exchange of empty possessions, Sefolosha swished a 3-pointer and Durant followed with a steal and layup to give Oklahoma City an 85-75 cushion with 2:54 left. "That gave us a boost when he hit that shot," Durant said. The Thunder managed only one point after that, but the Grizzlies couldnt take advantage, scoring only on a follow shot by Randolph with 1:12 left. The Thunder used an 18-2 run near the end of the first half to take a 51-36 halftime lead. By halftime, Ibaka already had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. "We started the game great defensively and we built off of that," Durant said. "Offensively we played a little slow but we picked it up in that second quarter and built some momentum going into the second half." With a lineup of reserves, Oklahoma City didnt score for almost three minutes to start the fourth quarter, causing Brooks to reinsert Durant with 9:41 left. Durant promptly drew a foul on James Johnson and hit 1-of-2 free throws, then swished a 14-foot jumper from the left wing to put the Thunder up 72-63. "We played from too far behind," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "We gave them 51 points, lots of layups, in the first half. . It was very difficult for us. When you come back, you have a very small margin for error." Reggie Jackson started the game with two airballs but eventually finished with 12 points for Oklahoma City. Mike Miller added 11 points for Memphis. Notes: With starting point guard Mike Conley out with an ankle injury, Memphis signed G Darius Morris to a 10-day contract on Monday. Morris averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 assists in 22 games this season with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. ... Memphis had a six-game road winning streak snapped. .. The Thunder recorded its 113th straight regular-season sellout, although there were some empty seats visible in the lower sections of Chesapeake Energy Arena. ... Joerger was named as the Western Conference coach of the month for January, beating out Brooks. Memphis went 12-3 in January, compared Oklahoma Citys 13-5 mark. ... At least twice, Joerger complained about the volume level in the arena. Lonnie Shelton Jersey . Mike Babcock has turned to the Montreal Canadiens goalie over Roberto Luongo, who backed Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, for Canadas final preliminary round game against the ailing Finns. Kevin Durant Jersey . - Veteran Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr, sidelined since Game 1 of the Anaheim series, says hes close to returning. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/700s-mark-radford-jersey-supersonics.html . - The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta reached agreement on a five-year contract Friday.Superman is a team-first super hero. When the Saskatchewan Roughriders Geroy Simon made CFL history, he actually looked disappointed. He didnt celebrate, he didnt sprint to the sideline and hand the ball to an equipment man for safe keeping, and he didnt get mobbed by teammates. The game wasnt stopped and there were no presentations made at centrefield. It was second down and ten when Simon caught the 1,018 catch of his illustrious career and he was tackled three yards short of a first down. At the time, the Riders were trailing and there was still work to do and the game was more important to the CFLs most productive receiver. That team-first, game-first attitude just may be the number one reason why Simon has been so consistent and so productive for so many years. When asked about how he felt when he made the historic catch he said, "during the game I was frustrated, we werent playing very well and we were trying to win a football game, the game was more important." The former Maryland Terrapin also did not want the game stopped and informed the CFL head office that he didnt want any presentation made while the game was going on, due to what he experienced last year when he became the all-time leader in receiving yards. While he was honoured in 2012, the league and at the time the BC Lions, wanted to recognize his achievement and stopped the game to allow Geroy to address the home crowd. But he felt the break in the action caused him to temporarily lose his focus. "Last year when they stopped the game I felt like it threw our team off a bit and after I had to take the mic and talk to the crowd I felt like it threw everything off for me." Simon went on to say, "I just want to play and win the game." Dont get Simon wrong; he is very proud of his accomplishments and appreciates the fact that the league, the teams he has played for, and the fans want to recognize those achievements. He just doesnt want it to effect his teams chance to win a football game. The debate as to who is the best receiver in CFL history will go on forever and will be tailored to a football fans personal bias. A Stamps fan may make the argument for Allen Pitts, while a Bomber fan will say that Milt Stegal is the best all timee. Detlef Schrempf Jersey. What is not debatable, however, is who is the most productive receiver in the over 100 year history of the Canadian Football League. Simon is most proud of the fact that these records have also coincided with winning football teams. He is a two time Grey Cup Champion and said its the combination of the numbers and the wins that matters most. "The fact that I have put up numbers like that means I have been consistent and productive over all those years but it is the production plus the winning that is what really matters." There is one other mark on the horizon. With one more 100 yard game, Simon will tie Allen Pitts who currently holds the league record with 64 in his career. But when asked about yet another record, Simon would not waiver from his team-first approach when he said, "again it means I have produced but what is most important to me is that if I get 100 yards receiving our team probably has a better chance to win and that is what I care about." Friday night, Geroy Simons new team - the Saskatchewan Roughriders - are in Vancouver to take on the Lions in a game that has huge playoff implications in the west and when it comes to home field advantage in the postseason. The Lions have said that they will recognize Simons record with a mention on the big screen. Even though the majority of Geroys catches were made as a member of the BC Lions, there will be no plaque presentation or special ceremony. The Lions have said he is a Rider now and they will acknowledge the accomplishment and move on because their focus is the game and Geroy now plays for the enemy. Simon wouldnt want it any other way. When he heard how the Lions are going to handle the CFL record set by their former receiver, his response was again as consistent as he was as a player. "It is nice that they will mention it but to be honest it wouldnt bother me at all if they did nothing. This is a huge game for us and we need a win; that is all Im thinking about." It is a big game. If the Lions win, they tie Calgary for first in the west and if the Riders win they stay in the race for home field advantage in the playoffs. It is also a game that will feature the most productive receiver in the games history. ' ' '