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OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Memphis Grizzlies are showing a knack for closing out tight games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. All thats left to prove is whether they can finish off a playoff series thats been nip and tuck throughout and move on to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. In each of the first three games of the series, the go-ahead bucket was scored in the final 2 minutes. Then Game 4 went to overtime, with Memphis winning 103-97 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and put the Thunder on the brink of elimination. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. "Its not like any of the games that it was handed to us. Every game has been right down to the last 2 minutes," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Tuesday as both teams took the day off. "That gives you hope." For Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City, a once-promising season now comes down to desperation time. Without injured All-Star Russell Westbrook, the Thunder need to win three in a row if they hope to reach the West finals for a third straight season or make their second straight trip to the NBA Finals. For his career, Durant is 1-3 when facing elimination. The only win came in Game 7 against Memphis two seasons ago in the West semifinals. "One thing about Kevin, hes going to come back and give everything he has," Brooks said. "Hes not an excuse guy. Hes not going to blame anything on nobody, other than put the pressure on himself to perform every night. Thats what makes us a good team, because of that attitude that he has." Durant has had to do it all since Westbrook had knee surgery prior to Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs. Hes averaging 30.8 points, 11 rebounds and 6.8 assists in this round, and also hit all the key shots down the stretch in the Thunders Game 1 victory. But over time, Memphis -- the leagues top defensive team in the regular season -- has made it harder for Durant to excel with the game on the line. After going 10 for 16 from the field with 22 points in the fourth quarter of the first two games, Durant has gone 3 for 17 and scored seven points in the fourth quarter in Games 3 and 4 plus overtime on Monday night. His shooting percentage in crunch time has gone down in each game. "Weve just got to find a way to make those plays. Were playing hard every day. Its just not going our way," Durant said. "We just have to get ready for Game 5. Its at home, so it should be exciting. Im looking forward to it." While Oklahoma City is at risk of bowing out, the Grizzlies are one win away from the next big step in their progression as a franchise. Before this season, they had won only one post-season series, against San Antonio in 2011. "Its still a game. Still we have to play another game, and we have to win another game. Theres no greater magnitude," coach Lionel Hollins said. "Its just a game that we have to go out and play well to win. Its just like when were down 0-1, just like when we were 1-1, just like when we were 2-1. It never changes. Its a game that has to be played to the best of your ability and the winning and losing takes care of itself." With two teams that have been so closely matched, there dont figure to be any more major adjustments at this point. Brooks was happy with his decision to have power forward Serge Ibaka guard 7-footer Marc Gasol instead of counterpart Zach Randolph, given that Ibaka emerged from a shooting slump for 17 points and 14 rebounds. "I think it loosened him up, just his mind, so he can focus on what he does well. We need his scoring, we need his shooting and I thought last game was good," Brooks said. "Hopefully we can get it again." It still wasnt enough to change the final result -- the third straight Memphis win by exactly six points. "As hard as they came out on us (Monday) night, theyre going to come out even harder when they get home. Its desperation for them," Hollins said. "And we cant anticipate or think that its going to be an easy game. We have to go out and be ready for a heavyweight battle." Brooks said the three straight losses havent changed his teams mindset, which remains "we expect to win and if we dont, itll be disappointing." And he doesnt want the win-or-else mentality to create mounting pressure on his players. "The pressure is not to make every shot. The pressure is just to compete as hard as you can for your team, and wherever that takes you, you live with it," he said. "I think our guys are ready to commit to one more great effort game, and were looking forward to it." After the loss Monday night, Brooks had a light-hearted moment and mentioned knowing that theres a barbecue festival in Memphis on Friday, when Game 6 would be played. "We want to be able to win in front of our home fans and have another game in Memphis and see what we can do there. I like our ability to come back in tough situations, within games and even to the next game. This is obviously not the greatest position to be in but we still have a chance to be a part of history," Brooks said. "Theres not a lot of teams that have come back from 3-1 but we have the talent, we have the teamwork, we have the effort and teamwork to do Wholesale Jordan Retro 5 . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Cheap Jordan 5 For Sale . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. http://www.airjordan5nz.com/ . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Cheap Jordan 5 Retro . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Cheapest Air Jordan 5 . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. IRVING, Texas -- The Big 12 will hold its newly reinstated football championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.The conference announced the site of its five title games from 2017-21 on Friday. AT&T Stadium was the leading candidate, considering half the conferences 10 schools are within a 4 1/2-hour drive of Arlington.San Antonio and Kansas City, Missouri, were also considered.AT&T Stadium was the site of the first College Football Playoff championship game in 2015 and annually hosts the Cotton Bowl, one of six games through which the national semifinals rotate.ddddddddddddThe Big 12 stopped playing a football championship game after the league shrunk to 10 members in 2011, but members recently decided to restore it. ' ' '