The ball flew loose, the clock ran out, Westbrook pumped his fist in celebration and the Thunder breathed easy as it snapped an 8-game road losing streak with a 102-101 overtime win.

The Thunder made a conscious effort at that point to elevate the pace and tempo of the game – to push the ball more in transition, to run its offense faster in the halfcourt and try to get Memphis’ defense on the move.

The Thunder found something and stuck with it – an offensive set that got Alex Abrines going baseline from the left side of the floor to the right, then looping off a screen for a catch on the right wing.

Abrines hit two of his threes in the extra period, but with the game tied at 98, the Thunder’s incredible defensive possession was upended by a contested Evans three-pointer up against the shot clock.

Then, after a timeout, the Thunder went for a steal and JaMychal Green had a wide open lane for a dunk, but Jerami Grant flew in to foul and prevent a sure two points.