Realtime Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies looked exhausted Wednesday as they were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 two days after their triple overtime thriller. Perhaps their home crowd will energize them Friday night when the Grizzlies host the Thunder in Game 6 hoping to stave off elimination.

Oklahoma City and Memphis combined to score 256 points Monday in a triple overtime game that lasted nearly four hours. Oklahoma City prevailed 133-123 as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 75 points.

Less than 48 hours later, the two teams were back in action for Game 5, and the Grizzlies looked like they hadn’t recovered from Game 4. The Thunder didn’t even need Durant and Westbrook for the fourth quarter as they blew out the Grizzlies 99-72 to take a 3-2 series lead. It is Oklahoma City’s first lead in the best-of-seven series.

Memphis shot a season-worst 36 percent Wednesday. But the Grizzlies are aware that it was more than just missed shots that cost them Game 5.

“Shots weren’t falling for us but you still have to come with great effort and we didn’t bring it at all,” guard Mike Conley said. “They outplayed us in every area of the game. I wish I could tell you why. It just wasn’t there.”

To avoid elimination, the Grizzlies will likely need a lot more out of Zach Randolph than what they got out of him in Game 5. The power forward, who is averaging 23.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in the playoffs, had just nine points and seven rebounds Wednesday.