um of the season, Im very proud," Vettel said.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Kevin Durant insisted the Thunder facing elimination was all the motivation he needed. Thanks to the NBAs best scorer, the Thunder remain alive and can finish off the Memphis Grizzlies back in Oklahoma City. Durant scored 36 points to break out of a slump, and the Thunder routed the Grizzlies 104-84 on Thursday night to force a deciding seventh game in the first-round Western Conference series. His performance came on a day where the hometown newspaper questioned his struggles with a headline calling him "Mr. Unreliable." "We needed to win this game," Durant said. "Thats more motivation than anything, so our team responded. Weve got to do an even better job in Game 7." Russell Westbrook added 25 points for the Thunder, who havent been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since 2010. They took control early with Durant scoring 14 points in the first quarter, led by 15 at halftime and never let Memphis get that close again in the second half in the first game in the series that didnt go to overtime since the opener. "You dont get to his level as an NBA player and a great player as he is to have other people motivate you," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Hes self-motivated. Hes a tremendous kid and does everything for his team, for our organization. Were proud of him because he gives everything he has. That was the only focus for tonights game." Durant also had 10 rebounds and made 14 of 15 free throws. Reggie Jackson had 16 points off the bench for the Thunder, who will host Game 7 on Saturday night. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said the Thunder simply wanted the game more and called the loss embarrassing in front of a sellout crowd. "Now, weve shot ourselves in the foot, and we have to go to a hostile environment now and pretty much show where our heart is at," Allen said. Marc Gasol had 17 points and Zach Randolph 16 for Memphis. Guard Mike Conley strained his right hamstring, briefly returned and left for good with 8:48 left. Conley went down in the third quarter near midcourt dribbling when Kendrick Perkins reached in for a steal. The Memphis guard returned briefly, but Conley was limping noticeably. With the Thunder in control, Conley went to the locker room again and didnt return. Nick Calathes currently is suspended for violating the NBAs anti-drug policy, leaving Memphis with only Beno Udrih at point guard. Memphis coach Dave Joerger said Udrih will play a lot of minutes if Conley cant. Conley said he will be re-evaluated Friday and receive as much treatment as possible before tipoff Saturday. "I plan on playing," Conley said. Durant had to answer questions after the shootaround Thursday about that headline in The Oklahoman newspaper. Durant said he had no problem with the headline and that he just needed to hit shots and be more aggressive. Smiling just before tipoff, Durant did just that. The man who led the NBA scoring 32 points a game during the regular season opened by hitting five of his first seven and finished 11 of 23 from the floor. He continued to struggle outside the arc where he missed all six of his attempts. The Grizzlies had a chance to advance to their third semifinal in four years on their own floor. Yet they couldnt shoot well or match the Thunders intensity with a sloppy performance in front of a sellout crowd that tried to energize the Grizzlies. Oklahoma City outrebounded Memphis 47-36 and easily outshot them 49.3 per cent (37 of 75) to 37.3 per cent (31 of 83). "We knew sooner or later our shots would fall," Brooks said. Brooks also benched Thabo Sefolosha and started Caron Butler. "This is why you play the game to prove doubters wrong, and adversity builds character," Butler said. "This team has a strong character and a will." Memphis last led 6-4. A team that thrives off defence, the Grizzlies couldnt knock down shots even when they managed to get consecutive stops. The Grizzlies got to 42-37 with 3:08 left on a steal and fast-break layup by Conley. The Thunder finished the half with a 14-4 run for a 56-41 lead. The Grizzlies missed their first six shots to open the third quarter, finishing any hopes of a comeback. James Johnson scored 15 points off the bench for Memphis, and Allen added 13. Notes: This will be the second Game 7 between the teams in four years. Oklahoma City beat Memphis in seven in the 2011 conference semifinals. ... The Grizzlies are 4-1 with a chance to close out a series. ... Steven Adams blocked a career-high five shots off the bench for the Thunder. Frank Zombo Chiefs Jersey . The Goldeyes (10-7) lost 4-1 to the Saltdogs (8-9) Sunday afternoon before 5,834 sizzling fans at Shaw Park. The loss drops Winnipegs record to 3-4 during this past weeks seven-game homestand. Steven Nelson Chiefs Jersey . Bibeau, Torontos sixth-round pick at No. 172 overall in last years draft, was named the outstanding goaltender of the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup. http://www.chiefsstoreofficial.com/auth ... fs-jersey/. On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. Len Dawson Chiefs Jersey . -- Houstons All-Star tandem of James Harden and Dwight Howard refused to let the Rockets give in to fatigue. Marcus Allen Chiefs Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. MONZA, Italy -- Sebastian Vettels rivals have all but conceded the Formula One title after the German recorded his sixth victory of the season with a resilient performance to win the Italian Grand Prix. While Vettels victory at the Belgian GP two weeks ago was clinical, Sunday he was forced to overcome a difficult start from the pole position and gearbox trouble to beat Ferraris Fernando Alonso and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. "The heartbeat was a bit higher in the car and also the pit wall, because we didnt know what was going on," Vettel said about the gearbox problem. "I tried to pace myself a little bit more and control the gaps." Before the race, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali gave Alonso two races -- the next is Singapore in two weeks time -- to close the gap before the team switches its focus to developing next years car. Alonso is 53 points behind Vettel with seven races to go and the Spaniard already sounds like hes given up. Lewis Hamilton is 81 points back in third with only 175 available. "We didnt close the gap in the championship, which is obviously the goal," Alonso said. "We dont have enough races and we dont have the speed now to win consecutive races." Nevertheless, Alonso drove well from fifth on the grid. "Its a fantastic feeling here in Monza. The fourth year I have driven for Ferrari, the fourth time on the podium," he said. "Every year its something ....., something unique." Vettel locked his tires on the first turn as the Ferrari of Felipe Massa pressured him from behind, but after that the German consolidated his advantage to beat Alonso by 5.4 seconds and Webber by 6.3. "This is the best podium of the season, Im very proud," Vettel said. "We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion." Monza is the home race for Ferrari fans and there were loud jeers when Vettel was on the podium. "You can hear the difference when you dont win here in a red suit but it means you have done well and beaten the red men (of Ferrari))," Vettel said.dddddddddddd "The more booing we get the better weve done today. I dont blame the people to be honest, its in their genes. They love Ferrari." It was Vettels third career win at Monza -- his first was with Toro Rosso in 2008 and then Red Bull in 2011 -- his sixth of the season and 32nd overall, moving him even with Alonsos win total. He was more emotional than usual, shaking his head vigorously in celebration and letting out his trademark high-pitched whoop as he celebrated his third win in the past four races, then pumping his fist several times as he walked up the podium steps. Massa finished fourth ahead of German drivers Nico Hulkenberg -- a seasons best for Sauber -- and Nico Rosberg, who was sixth on a poor day for Mercedes. There was light rainfall before the race, but the sunshine returned as Vettel started from pole for the 40th in his career and first since the Canadian GP in June. Roared on by thousands of flag-waving tifosi, Ferrari had a point to prove and Alonso brilliantly overtook Webber on the outside and then zoomed ahead of Massa. After 10 of 53 laps, Vettel led Alonso by about 5 seconds, but engineers told him that his front right tire had taken some damage on turn 1 and Alonso began to make up time. Vettel pitted on lap 24, switching from medium to hard tires, followed shortly by Webber and Massa, but Alonso stayed out until lap 28 as leading drivers chose a one-stop strategy. In his last European race before he retires from F1 at the end of the season, Webber got his first podium at Monza. "Good battle with Fernando," the Australian said. "Last time in Monza, so thank you very much." Briton Paul di Restas race lasted a few seconds after he sustained damage to the front left tire of his Force India car. He appeared to hit the back of Romain Grosjeans Lotus and stewards were investigating the incident. Hamilton started from 12th after his worst qualifying performance this campaign and finished ninth. "Thats it for the Championship now," said Hamilton, who won the F1 title in 2008. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '