2 May 2014

Thunder stay alive in NBA playoffs

4:50 pm on 2 May 2014

The New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams had a career game as his Oklahoma City Thunder kept their NBA playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies alive.

Down 3-2, the Thunder were facing elimination in the first round of the best-of-seven Western Conference series, but won 104-84 on the road in Memphis to level it at 3-all.

Adams played 20 minutes for just two points but had a career-high five blocks, and Thunder coach Scott Brooks credited his and starting centre Kendrick Perkins' low-post games as a "major, major reason" why they won the game.

Up 25-17 after the first quarter and 56-41 at half-time, Oklahoma led 82-61 heading down the stretch. The Thunder's MVP candidate Kevin Durant matched his series-high with 36 points, while star guard Russell Westbrook scored 25.

The decisive game seven is in Oklahoma on Sunday.

Elsewhere the Indiana Pacers sent their Eastern Conference series to a game seven with a 95-88 road win at the Atlanta Hawks.