Rolling Thunder! OKC advances to the West Finals!

This is why KD is a hero like D-Rose.
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

OKC over MEM, 105-90 (OKC wins, 4-3)

It took them long enough, but at least the Thunder can now prep for the drive down Interstate 35 to face the well-rested Dallas Mavericks for the Western Conference crown.

Durant nailed 39 points to lead OKC
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

And Kevin Durant? He’s back. Oh yes he’s definitely back.

After playing like the shadow of his shadow, KD dumped an impressive 39 points on the Grizzlies and ensured that the Thunder would be the lowest-seeded team remaining in the battle for the NBA title.

Great help came from the other half of Scott Brooks’s dynamic duo as Russell Westbrook finished with a triple-double (14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds). And the other Oklahoma guys compounded things even more as Nick Collison had 12 boards and 3 blocks, James Harden hit 4 triples on the way to 17 points, and there was even a Nate Robinson sighting, who hit 5 points in barely 2 minutes of action.

Memphis, in what would be the last game of their pseudo-Cinderella playoff run, played well, but just not well enough. Zebo scored 17 points and nabbed 10 boards, but even that is pedestrian for him. Marc Gasol has 12 markers, 7 caroms and 2 blocks, but that’s pedestrian for him in the postseason too. Mike Conley and OJ Mayo combined for 32 points, but they only made 12 out of 31 shots. It was good, but good just won’t cut it. Not in the playoffs, and definitely not in a Game 7.

Memphis is out, but we can't forget the miracle run they had
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

And so Lionel Hollins takes his grizzles Grizzlies to the sunset, off to the offseason that, though it seems depressing now, is something that nobody expected. Memphis may not have ousted the Thunder, but they can take solace in the fact that they made franchise history over and over again in the past few weeks. And that was without Rudy Gay. Shudder to think how good they’ll be next year.

But that’s next year.

This year we have four teams left, and the last entry into the NBA’s version of the Final Four has finally been determined. It took them long enough, but the Thunder are finally here – finally where they’re supposed to be. I have a feeling they won’t be finished here though. Oh no. They’re not finished yet.